PRSE 2026 is over, and after two packed days in Amsterdam, we have finally had a moment to reflect on what was a brilliant experience from start to finish.

First of all, thank you to the thousands of people who took the time to visit the WasteTrade stand.

The amount of support, interest, insight, and energy around the stand across both days was incredible, and it genuinely made all the preparation and hard work worthwhile.

PRSE has always been an important event for us, but this year felt different.

The conversations felt more urgent. More focused. More commercial.

Compared to previous years, far more people came to the stand ready to talk about real business. Buyers were actively looking for material. Sellers were looking for stronger routes to market. Everyone was looking for new opportunities and more reliable networks.

There was noticeably less hesitation and far more intent.

That says a lot about where the industry is right now.

The market is changing quickly, and businesses know they cannot afford to stand still. Companies are under pressure to secure supply, maintain margins, adapt to new regulation, and keep materials moving efficiently in a much more complicated global environment.

Regulations Are Coming Everywhere

Unsurprisingly, regulation dominated a huge number of conversations throughout the show.

DIWASS , Digital Product Passports , export restrictions , shipment controls, traceability, and compliance requirements were all major talking points. Many businesses are trying to understand how they adapt to a regulatory landscape that seems to become more demanding every few months.

The revised EU Waste Shipment Regulation and the introduction of systems like DIWASS are changing how waste movements are documented, monitored, and managed across Europe. At the same time, businesses are increasingly aware that traceability and structured material data are becoming essential parts of trade, not just compliance exercises happening in the background.

What became very clear at PRSE is that companies no longer see trading, logistics, compliance, and data as separate issues. They are all connected now.

New Faces At PRSE

Another thing that stood out this year was how broad the audience at PRSE has become.

Of course, recyclers and waste businesses remain at the centre of the event, but we also spoke with virgin material traders looking to move into recyclables, packaging businesses trying to prepare for future regulation, product designers exploring recyclability, academics, researchers, and students all trying to better understand where the sector is heading.

That wider interest is important because it shows how much the recycling industry now overlaps with manufacturing, procurement, design, technology, and international trade.

The Global Shift

We also came away with a strong sense of just how global the market has become.

In the early days, many of the conversations around WasteTrade were heavily centred around Europe. This year, we discussed material demand and opportunities connected to North and South America, the Middle East, right across Africa (from Egypt to South Africa, from Ghana to Kenya), the Far East, and Australia.

The market is becoming more connected, more international, and in many ways more competitive. Businesses increasingly need wider exposure, stronger networks, and more flexibility than they did even just a few years ago.

Attitudes Are Changing

One of the most interesting things for us personally was seeing how attitudes towards WasteTrade itself have evolved over time.

When WasteTrade first launched, the idea of a digital marketplace for recyclable materials was brand new within the industry. There was curiosity and interest, but also understandable scepticism. Recycling has traditionally been built on personal networks, long-standing relationships, and doing business face to face.

That has changed dramatically.

As regulation, logistics, compliance, and international trade have become more complex, businesses are increasingly looking for solutions that bring everything together in one place. People now understand the value of having access to a global network of buyers and sellers, integrated logistics support, compliance expertise, due diligence, Digital Product Passports, AI-driven technology, and secure infrastructure all within the same wider platform.

What once felt new now feels increasingly necessary.

Worth Every Minute

Most importantly though, PRSE 2026 reminded us why we enjoy this industry so much in the first place.

The conversations were honest. The atmosphere was positive. The people were brilliant.

We have come away from Amsterdam feeling energised about what comes next, and we are already following up with many of the people we met across the two days.

To everyone who stopped by the stand, thank you again. It really did mean a lot to us.

And if you did not get the chance to visit WasteTrade at PRSE this year, we would still love to hear from you.

Get in touch with us at info@wastetrade.com and let’s see how we can work together.