The Recycling Association Quality First Conference








The 2018 Quality First Recycling Conference will take place on Tuesday 17th April at Ashursts Solicitors Conference Centre, London.

The conference will include presentations from Mary Creagh MP, Richard Parker from retailer Iceland, Simon Ellin CEO of The Recycling Association, Lee Marshall from LARAC, Craig Robinson from CycleLink, and Packaging Designer David Harding-Brown.

The conference will run from 9am until 4pm and will be followed by networking.


9-10am: Registration 

10:00-10:30am: Why Quality First and China has changed the debate 

Simon Ellin, chief executive, The Recycling Association 

10:30-11am: How can government influence the supply chain to improve quality recycling  

Mary Creagh MP, chair, Environmental Audit Committee

11-11:30am: Coffee 

11:30am-12pm: How Iceland intends to design out plastic from its own packaging range

Richard Parker, head of sustainable packaging, Iceland

12:30-1:30pm: Panel discussion: How can the supply chain work together to improve packaging design and recyclability? What are the issues and will the Resources and Waste Plan help? 

David Harding-Brown, Pack Dynamics 

Richard Parker, head of sustainable packaging, Iceland

Stuart Hayward-Higham, technical development director, Suez

1:30-2:30pm: Lunch 

2:30-3:00pm: What is the impact of the Chinese ban on local authorities 

Lee Marshall, chief executive, LARAC 

3:00-4:00pm: Panel discussion: What is the impact of the Chinese ban on the recycling market 

Craig Robinson, managing director, Cyclelink UK 

More panel members to be confirmed

4:15-4:30pm: Your thoughts. What next for Quality First? What are the opportunities for the UK recycling sector? Plus summing up of conference 

Hosted by Simon Ellin 


Ashursts LLP, Broadwalk House, 5 Appold Street, London EC2A 2HA.

The nearest mainline railway station or tube stop is Liverpool Street.

Please use the following post code for Sat Nav directions if you are walking from a Tube stop, station or bus stop: EC2A 2AG


The 2018 Quality First Conference is being sponsored by Ashursts LLP.


Members and Associate Members have been allocated two free tickets per organisation. Spaces are limited and are available on a first come first served basis.