The Lunar Society’s Annual Dinner explores the hidden impact of our waste

The Lunar Society brought members, guests and friends together for its 2026 Annual Dinner, combining an evening of conversation and networking with a thought-provoking discussion about one of the less visible challenges facing modern society: what happens to the things we throw away.

Our guest speaker, Oliver Franklin-Wallis, author of Wasteland: The Dirty Truth About What We Throw Away, Where It Goes, And Why It Matters, shared insights from the research behind his acclaimed book.

His investigation took him behind the scenes of the global waste industry, exploring where our rubbish really goes and the people and systems involved in dealing with it.

Oliver's words offered an eye-opening perspective on something that most of us rarely think about once our bins have been emptied. His research revealed some surprising and, at times, shocking realities about the journey of our waste and the consequences of the way we consume and dispose of products.

Engaging conversation

Oliver’s presentation was followed by an engaging Q&A, with members of the audience asking him about some of the most unexpected things he encountered during his research, and the experiences that had stayed with him.

One particularly interesting aspect of the discussion was the extent to which the research had changed Oliver's own behaviour. Having seen first-hand what happens to waste after it leaves our homes, he reflected on how this experience had influenced the way he thinks about what he buys, uses and throws away.

The conversation demonstrated the value of the Lunar Society's events in bringing people together to explore important contemporary issues from different perspectives – combining curiosity, evidence and open discussion.

The evening also provided an opportunity for Lunar Society members, guests and friends to network and continue conversations beyond the formal presentation, and of course our customary Annual Dinner raffle meant several guests went home with a fantastic prize to boot!

The Lunar Society would like to thank Oliver Franklin-Wallis and everyone who joined us for the evening.