The CRN UK & LCRN conference 2008, People & Resources: Third Sector, First choice celebrated innovation and success across the community recycling sector from small charities to successful social enterprises.

The keynote speaker was the Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn, who talked about the importance of community-led innovation in tackling climate change.

It was also the launch platform for REconomy, the new Community Interest Company jointly owned by the four leading reuse, recycling and composting networks. Reconomy CIC will enable the individual networks to maximise the resources they bring to their members and provide a stronger more coherent voice in dealings with Government and industry.

At the conference Liz Goodwin, Director of the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and Matthew Thompson, interim Director of REconomy, announced the first programme to be delivered by REconomy, in partnership with WRAP. This new capacity building programme is an exciting new venture designed to develop the sector further through a comprehensive range of business development services.

LCRN used the conference as an opportunity to find out more about the diversity of membership through the LCRN TV vox pop. These can be found here on blip tv.