Draft Conference Programme: Beacon 2026 

Waste-to-Energy: From Global Challenges to Climate Solutions 

2–3 December 2026 

Speakers and session titles are subject to final confirmation. 
 

Wednesday, 2 December: Waste-to-Energy in a Changing World 

Welcome 
Tony Clark, Avfall Sverige, Bettina Kumak, International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) 

Maintaining Waste Management Resilience in Wartime 
Oleg Bondarenko, Chair of the Environmental Policy Committee, Parliament of Ukraine  
 

Session 1. Waste-to-Energy, Climate and the Circular Economy 
How is the role of Waste-to-Energy evolving as countries strengthen their climate ambitions, circular economy policies and energy systems? 

Going Climate Positive: How Negative Emissions Can Contribute to the 2040 Targets 
Representative of the City of Stockholm 

Waste-to-Energy in the EU: Upcoming waste policies in the pipeline 
Ella Stengler, CEWEP 

Lunch and Sponsor Exhibition 
 

Session 2. Carbon Capture and the Transformation of Waste-to-Energy 
A closer look at how carbon capture, climate policy and investment decisions are changing the Waste-to-Energy sector. 

The EU energy & climate policies framework and the role of CCUS for Waste-to-Energy 
Presentation and Fire side chat with two Swedish study cases: Sysav and Öresundskraft 

Fabio Poretti, CEWEP 
Björn Fredriksson Möller, Öresundskraft 
Rasmus Beckman, Sysav 
 

Coffee and Sponsor Exhibition 

Session 3. Global Waste-to-Energy Development 
Waste-to-Energy is developing rapidly in several parts of the world. This session explores new markets, changing waste systems and the role of energy recovery in countries facing growing waste management challenges. 

International Cases - Kanadevia: Marocco, Istanbul, Dubai  
Siegfried Scholz, Kanadevia 

International Cases - Asia and Eastern Europe 
Axel Hanenkamp, Martin GmbH 

International Cases - Waste-to-Energy in the USA 
Jeremy O'Brien, SWANA  

The Potential for Waste-to-Energy in Ukraine: A Sector Assessment 
Representative of COWI 

Panel Discussion with speakers from session 3
Moderator Bettina Kumak, International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) 

Ukraine Networking Reception 

An opportunity to meet Ukrainian and international waste management representatives and continue the discussion on reconstruction, resilience and future cooperation. 

Conference Dinner 

Thursday, 3 December: Resilience, Resources and the Plastic Challenge 

Session 4. Energy Security, Resilience and Waste Markets 
How can Waste-to-Energy contribute to resilient waste and energy systems, and how are changing waste markets affecting the sector? 

Waste-to-Energy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Recommendations from the ISWA White Book 
Christophe Cord’Homme, International Solid Waste Association (ISWA 

Resilience beyond emergency planning: Managing waste, delivering heat, supporting society  
Gustav Ebenå, Swedish Energy Agency 

Waste Market Trends: European and International Perspectives 
Ralf Schopwinkel, Geminor 
 

Coffee and Sponsor Exhibition 
 

Session 5. New Risks, New Technologies 
Emerging waste streams and contaminants create new challenges for waste management facilities. At the same time, digitalisation and new technologies offer new ways to identify and manage risks. 

Nitrous Oxide Cylinders and Other Emerging Hazards: How Can AI and Technology Help? 
Gavin Budd Jaipur Robotics 
 

Lunch and Sponsor Exhibition 
 

PFAS: Challenges for the Waste-to-Energy Sector 
Peter Quicker, Aachen University,ISWA Working Group energy recovery 

EU Waste-to-Energy Industry perspective on PFAS 
Leen de Bruycker, CEWEP 
 

Session 6. Tackling the Plastic Challenge 
Plastic waste remains one of the major challenges for the circular economy and for Waste-to-Energy. This session explores policy development, improved sorting and new technological solutions. 

Plastic Threaty 
Gunilla Carlsson, Sysav/ISWA 

The Plastic Tide: International Policy Developments 
Johanna Lissinger Peitz, Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee / Swedish Ministry of Climate and Enterprise 

Removing Plastics from Residual Waste: Differentiated gate fees based on plastic content 
Catja Apelros, E.ON 

The State of Plastic Sorting Technology 
Representative of TOMRA 

Conference Summary and Closing