Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS Expo), the UK’s largest environmental event, has announced that visitor registration is now open for its 2026 edition, taking place 16-17 September at the NEC Birmingham.

Free tickets to attend are available here.

ESS Expo 2026 is expected to welcome over 16,000 professionals from across a range of environmental and sustainability sectors. The event brings together a wide-ranging programme of speaker sessions, supplier exhibitions, policy-led debate, and networking opportunities - making it the essential gathering point for the environmental sector each year.

A Cross-Sector Environmental Platform

ESS Expo unites seven co-located industry shows in one place, enabling attendees to explore developments, policy trends, and technical solutions across the full breadth of the environmental industry with one free ticket:

• RWM Expo – Resource & Waste Management
• EFD Expo – Energy, Fuels & Decarbonisation
• CLR Expo – Contamination & Land Remediation
• WWEM Expo – Water, Wastewater & Environmental Management
• AQE Expo – Air Quality & Emissions
• GEO Expo – Geotechnical Engineering & Operations
• CARS & MRE – Complete Auto Recycling Show & Metals Recycling Event

Subject areas span air quality and carbon capture to waste processing, land remediation, recycling, net-zero strategy, and circular economy legislation, positioning ESS Expo as the most complete cross-sector environmental platform in the UK.

Exhibitors, Industry Insight, and Policy Dialogue

ESS Expo 2026 will host more than 700 exhibitors across the seven shows. Just some of the confirmed participants include:

• CARS & MRE: 7 Steel UK, Avelair Ltd, Hensel Recycling, Lindemann Germany GmbH, OHRA, SAR Metals, WILMA.
• CLR: Adler and Allan Ltd, Chemtech Environmental, Cornelsen Ltd, Element, Envirotreat, In-Situ Europe, JJ Mac Ltd, Kelly Tanks, Socotec, SRC Group.
• GEO: Atlas Group, Drillplus, euroloo, Geolabls Limited, Igne, Marshall Drilling Ltd, Moorend Limited, QTS Group, Robertson Geo, Terradat Ltd, Topdrill Ltd.
• WWEM: Emerson, Flowquip Ltd, Hach, Hanna Instruments, Hydrorock International, KELLER (U.K.) Limited, NIVUS GmbH, Pulsar Measurement, RS Hydro & Proteus Instruments, SIRIS, Teledyne Water, VEGA Controls Ltd, WCS Environmental Engineering, Xylem.
• AQE: Acoem, AirSENCE (A.U.G. Signals Ltd.), Centriair AB, Cognesense, Cura Terrae, DURAG Group, Dustscan Ltd, ION SENSE (Ion Science Ltd.), Protea Limited, Smart Sense, Turnkey Instruments.
• EFD: AFC energy / Hymatec, Augean, Bianna / Turboden, Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor, CEM Solutions, CERES, Certas Energy, Chemviron, Clyde Bermann Ltd, Desotec, Econward, Endress+Hauser, ENGIE UK, Fortify Safety, Gasmet Technologies, Geminor, GridBeyond, Halifax Fan, Honeywell, INTEC GMK, Jaipur Robotics, LRES-UK / Powertherm, Metcast Ltd, Octopus Energy, Pemo Pumps, Puragen, Salvtech, SEIRIS Expansion Joints, Thalia Waste Management, Total Safety, Valmet, Wasteant GmbH, Wasteer, Zeste Energy.
• RWM: Air Spectrum Environmental, AMP, Banzo Engineering, Bartec Municipal Technologies, Bollegraaf UK Ltd, Boughton Engineering, CIWM, CK International, CONTENUR, Dolav UK, E.H Hassell & Sons Ltd, Ecogenesys, EE Ingleton Engineering Ltd, Egger Timberpak, Eldan Recycling A/S, Environment Agency, Environmental Services Association, FCC Environment, Finning CAT, Fornnax Technology PVT Ltd, GAP Group Ltd, GreCon, Greyparrot, Grundon Waste Management Ltd, JCB, Kaizen Recycling, Kiverco Limited, KodaWaste, KOTI Dawson, Machinex, Materials Handling Products, McLanahan Corporation, Mick George Group, MOTRIDAL SPA, Pellenc ST, PermiServ, Recycleye, Routeware, SAR Metals, Skako Vibration Ltd, Steinert, GmbH, Thöni Industriebetriebe GmbH, TOMRA Sorting Ltd, Valpak, Ward Recycling, Waste Robotics, Wybone, Zappshelter.

Institutional support includes contributions from CIWM, ESA, and the Environment Agency, which returns in 2026 as the event's Lead Partner.

The two-day conference programme will feature speakers from across UK and European government, regulatory bodies, and industry, with confirmed names including: Toby Perkins MP, Member of Parliament for Chesterfield and Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee; Julia Buckley MP, Labour MP for Shrewsbury; Abby Chicken, Head of Sustainability, Openreach; Carolyn Cadman, Chief Sustainability and Natural Resources Officer, South West Water; Judy Procter, Deputy Director Water Regulation, Environment Agency; Stephen Elderkin, Director of Environmental Sustainability, National Highways; Sam Bower, Head of Sustainability: Natural Environment, Balfour Beatty. Discussions will focus on key policy areas including:

• Extended Producer Responsibility & Packaging Reform
• Deposit Return Schemes & Collection Reform
• Circular Economy in Practice
• Waste Crime & Compliance
• Decarbonisation & Low Carbon Materials
• Construction, Demolition & the Built Environment
• Food Waste & Organics
• Fleet, Technology & Innovation
• Fire Safety & Batteries
• Sustainable Business Models
• Communications & Community Engagement
• The UK's pathway to Net Zero
• Air quality and emissions frameworks
• Remediation strategies for land and water
• Environmental funding and regulatory compliance

New for 2026: A Bigger, Broader ESS Expo

Alongside the core expo programme, ESS Expo 2026 introduces several new features for attendees and exhibitors alike:

ESS Expo Careers Fair
A dedicated recruitment-focused feature connecting employers, recruiters, and training providers directly with students, graduates, career changers, and professionals looking to build careers in the environmental sector. Located adjacent to the Future Talent Hub, sponsored by Grundon, the Careers Fair includes a live jobs board, one-to-one career clinics, and a networking zone for informal meetups.

Start-up, Scale-up & Investors Network
A new feature designed to level the playing field for early and growth-stage environmental businesses, connecting innovation with the investors and communities that help it scale. Recognising that emerging businesses often face barriers to exhibiting at major trade events, this dedicated space offers subsidised opportunities to showcase, connect, and grow.

RWM Connect
Taking place on the evening of Day One, RWM Connect is the resource sector's biggest networking event - bringing 900+ professionals from the waste, recycling, resource, and energy industries together in a relaxed, informal setting. Drinks, entertainment, quiet networking, direct access to speakers and senior figures, and a room full of the sector's most influential people. Places are limited and expected to sell out.

The EMMA Awards 2026
Following a record 2025 edition, the Environmental Monitoring & Measurement Achievement (EMMA) Awards return to recognise outstanding projects, organisations, and collaborations delivering impact across air quality, water and land management. Free nominations are open until 12th June.

Waste Trucks Live
Set within RWM Expo, Waste Trucks Live is the UK's most comprehensive showcase of specialist waste vehicles, helping fleet managers compare and specify the right solutions for their operations in one place.

The Environment 100
Now in its third year, the Environment 100 Awards celebrate the individuals making a significant impact across the UK's environmental and sustainability sectors - from leaders and innovators to activists and self-starters. Taking place at the Future Talent Hub on Day Two (17 September, 12:00–14:00), the awards recognise those driving real, tangible progress across the sector. Nominations are free and open now, with a deadline of 27th June 2026.

The 35 under 35 Awards, sponsored by Grundon Waste Management
Recognising the pioneers and trailblazers driving change across the environmental sector, the 35 Under 35 Awards programme celebrates rising talent from across waste and recycling, water management, energy, construction, land management, air quality, and sustainability. Free to enter and free to attend, entrants submit a 250-word entry along with any supporting material for consideration by the judges. The awards ceremony takes place on Day One (16 September) at ESS Expo, NEC Birmingham. Entries close Friday 3rd July 2026.

Rob Mowat, Managing Director of ESS Expo, commented:

"ESS Expo has grown into something truly unique - there is no other event in the UK that brings together the full breadth of the environmental sector in one place at this scale. 2026 is set to be our biggest and most ambitious edition yet, and the introduction of new features like the Careers Fair and the Start-up, Scale-up, Innovation & Investors Network reflects our commitment to not just showcasing the sector, but moving it forward.

"Whether you're a policymaker, a major operator, an innovator, or a student taking your first steps into the industry - ESS Expo 2026 has something for you. We look forward to welcoming 16,000+ professionals to Birmingham in September for our most impressive showcase yet."

The full programme, speaker announcements, and exhibitor listings will be confirmed in the coming months.

To register free to attend, visit the form here.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

About ESS Expo: Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS Expo) is the UK's largest cross-sector environmental event, taking place annually at the NEC Birmingham. ESS Expo 2026 runs 16-17 September and unites seven co-located industry shows spanning resource, waste management, recycling, water management, air quality, sustainable engineering, decarbonisation, land remediation, circular economy,  net zero, energy from waste, and geotechnical engineering. Register free at ess-expo.co.uk.

--------------------------------------------------------------------