ISWA information

ISWA International Waste Manager

The ISWA International Waste Manager (IWM) programme was launched in September 2005. The programme is designed to provide an internationally recognized certification for individual professional waste managers based on their academic achievements and practical work experience. The certification is awarded at three levels - intermediate, advanced, international - depending on how applicants meet the ISWA criteria.

The stages involved in achieving ISWA International Waste Manager status can be summarized as follows:

• Completion of an application form describing the applicant’s education and practical work experience to ensure they meet ISWA’s basic requirements.
• Preparation of a detailed personal report on the applicant’s academic education, training and practical work experience. In the report, they can explain their professional approach to waste management and indicate how they meet ISWA’s criteria.
• Participation in a professional review interview either in person or electronically.
• A commitment by the applicant to follow ISWA’s Code of Ethics and to undertake a life-long programme of Continuous Professional Development.

As of July 2006 the following has been achieved:

• more than 130 initial inquiries have been received and registered
• more than 20 first-stage applications on form IWM001 have been received
• 9 interviews have been completed and certificates issued (the professionals certified so far are listed in the table below.
• 5 interviews are pending.

More information about the ISWA IWM programme can be found on the ISWA website under Training: www.iswa.org

New ISWA publication

‘Biological waste treatment survey’ is the latest updated version of the publication on status and trends in biological treatment by the ISWA Working Group on Biological Treatment. The first version of the publication dates back to 1996 and the new version is based on a revised survey.

The publication contains information on the general, legal and economic aspects for waste management and especially biological treatment. Furthermore, it contains more detailed information on composting, anaerobic digestion, MBT (mechanical-biological treatment), and the outlets for the products from biological treatment. The survey is available at the ISWA on-line bookshop for downloading as PDF.
95 pages; price: €30

ISWA Working Groups and their activities

The ISWA Working Groups are one of the most valuable assets of ISWA. The main issues that they deal with, along with the main activities and discussions, are listed below. Together, these Working Groups constitute one large network. More information is available on www.iswa.org

Working Group on Biological Treatment of Waste

• EU legislative initiative on biological treatment
• participates in the EU Soil Forum
• updates ’Status and Trends in Biological Treatment’
• new project on best practices for biological treatment
• organizes the ISWA bi-annual Beacon Conference in Italy on biological treatment of waste.

Working Group on Collection and Transport Technology

• street cleaning and littering
• public-private partnership/tendering process
• key issue paper on working conditions of waste collectors
• benefit of separate recycling schemes
• collection methods (including collection, vehicles) and mechanization of collection.

Working Group on Communication & Social Issues

• compiles successful campaigns and communication strategies
• creates monitoring methods for evaluating effects of communication.
• serves as an expert on communication for the other ISWA Working Groups.

Working Group on Economic Analyses for Sustainable Development

• guidelines for sustainable development of waste management
• discussion of various decision-making tools
• cost-benefit analysis
• welfare economics
• material flows analysis.

Working Group on Hazardous Wastes

• updates national hazardous waste management profiles
• published the Training Resource Pack jointly with UNEP
• organizes training courses.

Working Group on Healthcare Waste

• how to deal with opposition to local incineration of healthcare waste.
• collecting data on healthcare waste in all ISWA countries
• a survey on treatment methods for healthcare waste
• create an international research network for healthcare waste management
• work in co-operation with the WHO
• organizes training courses.

Working Group on Legal Issues

• addresses questions related to legal documents, EU legislation, matters raised by the OECD, WHO, ICC, UNEP and other international bodies and law cases.

Working Group on Recycling and Waste Minimization

• issues regarding waste handling and recycling in rural inhabited areas
• seminars on EU legislation
• biological treatment
• WEEE implementation in EU countries
• waste prevention projects in various countries
• follows new EU Thematic Strategy on Prevention and Recycling of Waste.

Working Group on Sanitary Landfill

• organizes training courses
• works on the Landfill Gas-to-Energy database, an initiative to quantify methane treatment
• joint participation with the World Bank at landfill gas-to-energy workshops
• organized the Beacon Conference on ’Sanitary Landfills for Latin America’ in co-operation with the US EPA and the World Bank.

Working Group on Thermal Treatment

• the EU project on Best Available Technology References (BREF) within waste incineration
• published a report on the state-of-the-art on handling flue gas cleaning residues
• implementation of the new EU Directives on Incineration of Waste - short reports from the countries within the Working Group
• the EU Court Cases on Recovery and Disposal Criteria and the definition of waste incineration as a method for energy recovery
• organizing the ISWA Beacon Conference in Malmö on Thermal Treatment of Waste.

Committee meeting schedule 2006-2007

The Board
30 September 2006 - Copenhagen, Denmark
1 October 2006 - Copenhagen, Denmark
13 January 2007 - India
14 April 2007 - Singapore
23 June 2007 - Turkey
22 September 2007 - Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Scientific & Technical Committee
29-30 September 2006 - Copenhagen, Denmark
9 January 2007 - telephone meeting
12-13 April 2007 - Singapore
21-22 June 2007 - Turkey (to be confirmed)

Managing Editors (ME)
5 October 2006 - Copenhagen, Denmark
Editorial Board (EB)
5 October 2006 - Copenhagen, Denmark

Managing Directors Network (MD)
30 September 2006 - Copenhagen Denmark (together with pre-General Assembly)

EU/DG Environment
None set

Working groups meeting schedule 2006-2007

Biological Treatment of Waste (WGBTW)
5 October 2006 - Copenhagen, Denmark (technical tour)

Collection & Transportation Technology (WGCTT)
14-15 September 2006 - Budapest
26-27 April 2007 - Hamburg, Germany

Communication & Social Issues (WGCSI)
5 October 2006 - Copenhagen, Denmark
19-20 April 2007 - Edinburgh, UK

Economic Analyses for Sustainable Development (WGEASD)
None set

Hazardous Waste (WGHW)
5 October 2006 - Copenhagen, Denmark (technical tour)

Healthcare waste (HCW)
5 October 2006 - Copenhagen, Denmark (technical tour)

Legal Issues (WGLI)
5 October 2006 - Copenhagen, Denmark

Recycling & Waste Minimisation (WGRWM)
5 October 2006 - Copenhagen, Denmark (technical tour)

Sanitary Landfill (WGSL)
5 October 2006 - Copenhagen, Denmark (technical tour)

September 2007 - Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Thermal Treatment of Waste (WGTT)
5 October 2006 - Copenhagen, Denmark (technical tour)
8-9 November 2006 - Austria

Get a new ISWA Member

ISWA is looking for new Members - therefore please recommend ISWA to people you meet through your work, at conferences or other professional occasions.

When you make your ‘sales speech’ you could mention that ISWA offers:

• the magazine Waste Management World
• a recognized journal: Waste Management & Research
• several newsletters
• 10 Working Groups
• a unique network of waste managers worldwide
• certified training through the International Waste Manager programme
• and the special benefits you find useful in your daily work.

You can ask prospective new members to sign up at the ISWA website www.iswa.org, use the application form below, or send the details of the new member to bbh@iswa.dk and the Secretariat will do the follow-up.

ISWA Members

Click here to view ISWA Member Directory