4–7 May | Hall A5, Stand A332 | Messe München
IFAT Munich is the world’s leading trade fair for environmental technologies, and this year ISWA is there again with an exciting stage and pavilion programme. Developed in close collaboration with our German National Member, including DGAW and Retech, the programme reflects the strength of ISWA’s membership network in action. Over the four days there are sessions on the Orange Stage and activities at the ISWA Pavilion in Hall A5 (Stand A332), tackling some of the critical themes in the industry. IFAT is one of the premier platforms through which ISWA regularly engages with the global waste and environmental community, connecting experts, inspiring evidence based debate, and helping translate ambition into practical action.
Climate, Energy and the Role of Waste
Two sessions on Monday 4 May open the week with some of the sector’s most fundamental questions. Can waste management meaningfully contribute to cooling a warming planet? And can energy recovery from waste, the process of generating power from materials that cannot otherwise be recycled, serve as a universal solution, or does it depend heavily on local context? These questions go to the heart of how we design sustainable systems at a time when climate pressure is intensifying.
Policy in Practice: EU Regulation and Global Reach
A Monday afternoon session examines the latest EU legislation on waste and the circular economy, asking honestly whether new regulatory frameworks represent an opportunity, a challenge, or something in between. On Wednesday, a session on ISWA’s international cooperation work explores how global knowledge translates into local impact through projects like the CLOCC that have helped develop sound waste management systems that work together with the community to address their needs and challenges.
Plastics, Innovation and the Next Generation
Tuesday also features ISWA’s Plastic Treaty Task Force, presenting the latest updates on breaking the plastic pollution cycle directly relevant to ongoing international treaty negotiations. The German Young Professionals Group will host an interactive workshop “Circular Chemistry in Action: From Idea to Implementation” exploring how a molecular level understanding of materials can sharpen circular economy decision making in practice. The session examines where innovations emerge, what blocks implementation, and how collaboration can accelerate progress. You can register for this here: Registration
AI and Robotics: Opportunity and Critical Questions
Closing the week, and to leave you with something to think about the future, on Thursday on the Orange Stage ISWA has organized a session on AI and robotics in next-generation waste and resource management that tackles what is fast becoming one of the most debated topics in the sector. From AI-assisted material recovery and robotic sorting systems to digital material flow tracking, the technologies are advancing rapidly. But so are the questions around cost, equity, and implementation at scale. ISWA brings in real world experts from companies at the forefront of these technologies and its characteristic industry critical lens to ensure the conversation goes beyond the hype.
Join Us
The ISWA Networking Reception on Wednesday evening is open to all attendees!
