IFAT postponed, BIR to decide on Istanbul convention ‘in the very coming days’

The IFAT trade show in Munich is postponed to September due to the widespread coronavirus, exhibitors report to Recycling International. Event organiser Messe Munich has now officially confirmed this.

The IFAT show was scheduled for 4-8 May and will now take place on 7-11 September, exhibitors are told.

*UPDATE: ‘Under the given circumstances, opening IFAT in May would not be justifiable towards our customers, in particular from a medical and economic perspective,’ comments Stefan Rummel, managing director of Messe München, on 12 March. ‘Now, we are looking forward to host a successful IFAT 2020 in September jointly with the industry.’

*UPDATE: US President Trump has suspended all flights from Europe to America for a period of 30 days to keep the virus from spreading further.

What else do we know?

Meanwhile the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) has announced it will decide ‘in the very coming days’ whether or not the recycling industry body’s Istanbul convention will take place as planned on 17-20 May. ‘At this time, BIR secretariat is collating all the necessary information, data and advice to take a sound decision,’ it is stated.

BIR stays in close contact with their association members and partners in Turkey. ‘We consult on a permanent basis the sources of information of the relevant health authorities. As this unprecedented situation is changing every day, we stay watchful and focused on the appropriate measures to be taken.’

Show is still on, says ISRI

The coronavirus has also raised growing concern at the US Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) because of the body’s upcoming annual convention and exposition in Las Vegas from 27-30 April. ‘At this time, we plan to continue to move forward with the convention,’ says ISRI chair Brian Shine in an email to members.

What about other events?

• IARC 2020 (Geneva, 11-13 March)
  Status: POSTPONED to 2-4 September
• Southeast Recycling Conference & Trade Show (Florida, 15-18 March)
  Status: CANCELLED
• Circular Materials Conference (Gothenburg, 17-18 March)
  Status: POSTPONED to 22-23 September
• International Recovered Paper Conference (Düsseldorf 19 March)
  Status: POSTPONED to 21 April.
• Plastics Recycling Show Europe (Amsterdam, 25-26 March)
  Status: POSTPONED, new date to be announced
• ETRA Conference (Brussels, 25-27 March)
  Status: POSTPONED to 2-4 September)
• Recycling Technik (Dortmund, 1-2 April)
  Status: POSTPONED to 24-25 June