Is recycling just a load of rubbish?
Christmas is a-coming, the bins are getting full...
About
We use a lot of stuff, and then throw it away so that it becomes someone else’s problem. What actually happens to our rubbish? How much of it could have a second life as something useful?
The answers are very variable depending on the type of material and what has been done to it to make the products that we use. Recycling is part of the picture, but it may not be the only solution and may not be the best approach in some cases. How does it stack up in environmental and economic terms? The obvious solutions are usually too simplistic, and have unexpected negative consequences. To understand why recycling is such a complex issue we must consider product end-of-life in the context of a whole lifecycle system rather than as an isolated process. We will explore different approaches to closing the materials usage loop particularly for metals and plastics and consider what optimal practices might look like.
But the bottom line is that we do need to become more frugal with the earth’s resources, and end-of-life materials have a big part to play. One way or another, we need to move towards being able to re-use all our materials so that there is no residual waste.
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Continuing Professional Development
This event can contribute towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours as part of the IET's CPD monitoring scheme.
18 Dec 2026
2:00pm - 3:30pm
Organiser
- London Local Network
Registration information
If you wish to attend this lecture, please book a place on the IET website.
During the booking process you will have the opportunity to pre-book an optional lunch at Savoy Place. The cost for a two-course meal with wine is £27.60.
Reservations for lunch can be made up to 11pm on the Monday prior to the event (subject to availability).
Speakers
Claire Barlow
Sustainability and Materials Engineer - Senior Lecturer at the University of Cambridge
Claire Barlow read Materials Science at Cambridge University before joining the Engineering Department where she is now Fellow Emerita at Newnham College. Her main research interest is in environmental aspects of production, use and disposal of engineering materials, with a focus on recycling processes and mechanical properties of recycled materials. She has worked on technical projects developing end-of-life treatments for a range of materials including plastics, natural materials, paper and aluminium. The problems of managing waste materials are integrally connected with wider industrial, social and political issues, and her work includes studies of waste management in international settings.
Reasons to attend
Find out why recycling is a genuinely complex issue, and the importance of looking at the ‘big picture’ to understand the wider implications of any actions.
Programme
This lecture is preceded by an optional lunch, which is served at 12.00, providing an opportunity to network with colleagues prior to the lecture.
14:00 – The lecture starts promptly at 14:00
14:45 approximately – Questions and discussion
15:30 - Networking time in the Faraday Centre.
Attendees should go to the Faraday Library reception on the 2nd floor.