The Environmental Services Association (ESA) is sponsoring two important fringe events at this year’s Labour Party Conference, bringing together politicians, industry leaders and other stakeholders to examine two growing threats to communities and essential public infrastructure.

Both events take place on Monday 28 September at the Liverpool Quaker Meeting House, 22 School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BT, as part of SERA’s Environment Hub.

From 9.30am to 10.30am, “The Heat is On: What can Government do to address the rise of lithium battery waste fires?” will explore the urgent action needed to keep batteries out of general waste and recycling streams, and stem the riding tide of battery fires.

The scale of the challenge is stark. Recent figures reported by The Guardian showed that ESA members recorded 1,518 fires during the year to March 2026, of which more than 700 were attributed directly to lithium-ion batteries.

ESA Chairman John Scanlon will join Alistair Strathern MP, Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, Wayne Mackay of Electrical Safety First and Kevin Johnson of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service. SERA’s Leonie Cooper AM will chair.

From 12.30pm to 1.30pm, “Waste Crime: Who pays the price? How can we protect communities and public funds from fly-tips and super dumps?” will consider how organised waste crime harms residents, legitimate businesses and the public purse.

With industrial-scale illegal dumping blighting communities and costing taxpayers, the panel will examine how better regulation, intelligence and enforcement can disrupt criminal operators.

Speakers include Peter Lamb MP, John Scanlon, environmental lawyer Dr Anna Willetts and CIWM’s Dan Cooke, with SERA’s Sandy Martin chairing.

ESA encourages conference delegates and stakeholders in Liverpool to join these timely discussions and help shape practical solutions to two pressing environmental challenges.