CDE has provided further details about its CIRCLE waste recycling symposium, which will be held from May 7-8, 2026 in Brussels.
The event will bring together experts from across the industry – including materials processors, technology specialists, legislators, academics, and policymakers – to share insights and rethink the global waste burden.
CDE’s ambition is to deliver a programme that allows delegates to explore the future of the materials that power our world and how we can uncover innovative strategies to balance sustainability with progress, while redefining waste as a valuable resource.
“This is not your typical conference,” said CDE business development director Darren Eastwood. “CIRCLE is a call to action. By convening global decision-makers in the beating heart of EU policymaking, the symposium will provide a truly collaborative platform to accelerate the pace of change in waste recycling and help rewrite the narrative around waste for a more circular future.
“We will notably be unveiling a first-of-its-kind solution for PFAS soil remediation – a breakthrough that could redefine how the industry tackles one of the most persistent environmental threats of our time.”
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also known as ‘forever chemicals’, are found in thousands of everyday products and present in contaminated soils and waste streams.
CDE has also announced that the headline speaker will be environmental attorney Robert Bilott, who rose to prominence for his work uncovering the global impact of environmental contamination caused by PFAS. He lead discussions on the need for innovation in the management of PFAS contamination.
His book, Exposure: Poisoned Water, Corporate Greed, and One Lawyer’s Twenty-Year Battle Against Dupont, inspired the move Dark Waters, starring Mark Ruffalo.
CDE said its soil washing systems, enhanced by advanced water treatments, offer a future-ready alternative to traditional PFAS remediation, and are already helping companies recover and reuse 70-80% contaminated waste materials. The next challenge is to remediate 100% of contaminated material – not just removing PFAS from soil but eliminating it from the entire process. That means developing new techniques and combining treatment solutions into modular systems to achieve improved results. CIRCLE will be the stage for unveiling this new solution.
CDE’s Eunan Kelly, an expert in material recovery, added, “CDE is continually demonstrating that effective soil washing is a powerful approach to tackling PFAS contamination. We’re not stopping at partial remediation. At this symposium, we will be sharing fresh insights into the progress we are making in the space alongside some of our customers who are pioneering new strategies to treat contaminated waste.
“With Robert Bilott headlining, CIRCLE is gearing up to be an unmissable opportunity to stay ahead of regulatory shifts, discover breakthrough technologies, and connect with high-level peers shaping the industry. Together we will reshape the future of recycling and create a truly circular economy.”
For more information and to register your interest, visit www.cdegroup.com/circle2026.
