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PRESS RELEASE

11/4/2002

Margaret Beckett to speak at Community Recycling Network Conference

Secretary of state for the environment Margaret Beckett will be the key speaker at this year's Community Recycling Network (CRN) conference. She will be speaking about the government's commitment to a more environmental waste management strategy. The 13th annual conference is returning to Birmingham this year, host city of many previous CRN events. As in previous years the CRN conference is a major opportunity to showcase community recycling in the UK.

Distinguished international guests from Italy, California and Egypt have also been lined up to give a global perspective on sustainable waste management. "We are delighted to welcome Mrs Beckett to our conference," says Andy Moore, CRN coodinator. "We are impressed at the way she has got to grips with the waste brief and we are looking forward to working with her in what promises to be an exciting year for recycling."

Ray Georgeson, director of policy at WRAP, is one of the conference's key speakers and will be talking about the future of recycling, local markets and economic development. "I am delighted to be attending. The annual CRN conference is one of the key events in the sustainable waste management year," he says.

The conference is being held at the Paragon Hotel, Birmingham May 29-31. Wednesday, the first day, will be dedicated to local authorities - leading strategists, policy makers and sustainable waste management companies will be presenting ideas and information on funding opportunities, building successful partnerships, hitting targets and delivering best value. Mrs Beckett will be speaking on Thursday morning. Other speakers that day include Laila Iskander Kamel from Cairo, talking about Achieving Social, Economic and Environmental Sustainability, and Kay Twitchen from the Local Government Association on The Importance of Partnership. The National Waste Awareness Initiative, training opportunities in the waste management sector and the CRN AGM are among the items lined up for Friday.

Register today to get a 10% early bird discount, for more details visit http://www.crn.org.uk/index.shtml or telephone 0117 908 1308

Registration details and further information can be obtained from Jo Grimshaw, events coordinator - email jo@crn.org.uk, tel (0117) 908 1308.

ENDS

Notes for editors: The Community Recycling Network is the umbrella organisation for more than 300 community groups, co-operatives and not-for-profit businesses in the community waste sector. Its aim is to promote community-based recycling as the most effective way of tackling the UK's growing waste problem. Its members have achieved some of the highest recycling rates in the UK and offer separated kerbside recycling collections to 1.5 million households - six per cent of the UK population. For further information: Andy Nelmes, CRN press officer, (0117) 907 4368, andyn@crn.org.uk, Jo Grimshaw, events coordinator, (0117) 908 1308, jo@crn.org.uk. Community Recycling Network, Trelawny House, Surrey Street, Bristol, BS2 8PS, tel: (0117) 942 0142. www.crn.org.uk.