CWM Environmental at the ISWA World Congress 2026

A global conversation on waste and resources

This week, the global waste and resource sector is meeting in London for the ISWA World Congress 2026, and CWM Environmental is there. Running from Monday 9 to Wednesday 11 November, the Congress brings together policymakers, operators, researchers and innovators from around the world.

For CWM, it is a chance to learn from international practice, share what we are doing in Carmarthenshire, and connect with peers working on the same challenges.

About the ISWA World Congress 2026

The International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) World Congress is the flagship event for the global waste and resource management sector. This year it is hosted by CIWM, the Chartered Institution of Waste Management, at the QEII Centre in Westminster. It is the first ISWA World Congress held in the UK for 30 years, with former European Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potočnik headlining.

The programme starts from a stark figure: global waste generation stands at around 2 billion tonnes a year and is rising (UNEP Global Waste Management Outlook 2024). The question the Congress asks is simple. Is that waste, or is it a resource?

Sessions run across five key themes:

• Human rights: everyone should be free from the harmful effects of waste
• Political commitment: continuous improvement in waste services, and recognition of their importance to society
• Waste planning: workable solutions for national and local contexts
• The economics of waste and resource management: investment that unlocks wider social and economic benefits
• Circular Economy: prioritising the transition to more circular economies by 2050

The programme was shaped from more than 400 abstract submissions, with dedicated sessions on anaerobic digestion, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Circular Economy in practice and energy from waste.

Why it matters for CWM

CWM Environmental’s work in Carmarthenshire covers the full resource journey: collection, recycling, reuse, composting, skip hire and education. Many of the Congress themes connect directly with projects we are developing now.

• CWM Gwyrdd at Nantycaws: our long-term vision for a Circular Economy development at Nantycaws. Waste planning and the economics of resource management are central to making it work.
• Our Resource Recovery Facility: international learning on sorting, material quality and end markets can feed straight into how we operate.
• Canolfan Eto: our reuse village, with a shop, café, education workshop and online reuse shop. It is where Circular Economy in practice happens every day, in front of our community.
• Green skills: the sector needs new people with new skills. We want to understand how others are building the workforce the Circular Economy will need.

The Welsh story on a world stage

Wales’ recycling record is often held up internationally as an example of what long-term policy, investment and partnership can achieve. Its Beyond Recycling strategy sets out the ambition for Wales to become a zero waste nation with net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

We are particularly looking forward to hearing Dr Andy Rees OBE, Head of Waste Strategy at Welsh Government, share the Welsh success story with an international audience in his session, A Complete Transformation in a Small Nation, on Wednesday 11 November at 14:30. Andy has played a leading role in shaping Welsh waste and Circular Economy policy.

For a Welsh operator, it is a useful reminder. What happens on the ground in Carmarthenshire is part of a national approach that others are watching closely, and that carries a responsibility to keep raising the bar.

What we will be listening for

Over the three days, we will be focusing on the practical questions that matter to an operator like CWM:

• Investment: how other countries are funding circular infrastructure, and making the economic case for it
• Reuse at scale: which reuse and repair models are working beyond pilot stage
• Policy in practice: how EPR and similar reforms are changing material flows and quality
• People and skills: how the sector is attracting new talent and building Circular Economy careers

We will share our key takeaways once the Congress closes, along with what they mean for our work in Carmarthenshire.

Frequently asked questions

When and where is the ISWA World Congress 2026?

The ISWA World Congress 2026 takes place from Monday 9 to Wednesday 11 November 2026 at the QEII Centre in Westminster, London.

Who is hosting the ISWA World Congress 2026?

The Congress is hosted by CIWM, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, on behalf of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA).

What are the key themes of the ISWA World Congress 2026?

The Congress is built around five themes: human rights, political commitment, waste planning, the economics of waste and resource management, and the transition to a Circular Economy by 2050.

Is Welsh Government speaking at the ISWA World Congress 2026?

Yes. Dr Andy Rees OBE, Head of Waste Strategy at Welsh Government, presents “A Complete Transformation in a Small Nation” on Wednesday 11 November at 14:30, sharing how Wales has transformed its approach to waste and recycling.

Why is CWM Environmental attending the ISWA World Congress 2026?

CWM Environmental is a Circular Economy and waste management company based in Carmarthenshire, Wales. We are attending to learn from international practice, share our work in reuse, recycling and site development, and connect with industry peers working on the same challenges.