Record attendance for RWM 08 exhibition

This year's Recycling and Waste Management exhibition (RWM 08) attracted a record number of visitors and exhibitors.

Initial figures (subject to audit) show 9,028 people visited RWM 08, a 12.4 per cent increase on the figures for RWM 07.

Stand space was sold out, with 500 exhibitors, more than half of who have already re-booked to return in 2009.

Inside the exhibition halls, visitors could attend free seminars in three theatres (Local Authority, Business and Talking Climate Change) and meet with companies demonstrating their latest technologies.

Bill Brown, director of Mailbox Mouldings, said: 'In 2007 we acquired GBP140,000 of business specifically from customers we met here and 2008 is shaping up to be equally successful.

'Over the last couple of days we've talked to around 200 people, almost none of whom I've met before.' Don Peters, marketing director of Lockwood Space Saver, which launched at the show, said: 'We've handed out around 150 information packs and gained nearly 40 top rate leads which look extremely positive, from health centres to schools and sports arenas.' News of cutting edge technologies launched at the show made it into the national, business and regional media and highlights from the show were broadcast on RWM TV around the exhibition halls, on a dedicated website and in NEC hotels.

Behind the scenes, organisers were keen to minimise the environmental impact of the exhibition itself.

Dry waste was segregated by exhibitors and visitors at the recycling points provided by Straight, before being compacted and baled by Mil-tek in the dedicated RWM Recycling Centre, while 390 litres of food waste collected from the NEC's catering outlets was processed onsite by Accelerated Compost.

RWM 09 will take place from 15 to 17 September 2009 at the Birmingham NEC.

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