Fundamentals of Sustainable Waste Management

About the Course

Sustainable Waste Management is a pivotal aspect of modern environmental stewardship, addressing the escalating challenges posed by burgeoning waste streams and their profound impact on ecosystems. Rooted in a holistic approach, the fundamentals of sustainable waste management encapsulate a hierarchical paradigm that emphasizes waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and energy recovery. At its core, the strategy advocates for a shift in mindset—from a linear, disposal-centric model to a circular economy where resources are conserved and waste is minimised. Source separation emerges as a critical precursor, facilitating efficient waste sorting and subsequent treatment.

Community engagement and public awareness are also pivotal in fostering a collective commitment to responsible waste practices. Through stringent policies, extended producer responsibility, and technological innovations, sustainable waste management endeavors to mitigate environmental degradation, conserve resources, and pave the way for a harmonious coexistence between human activities and the delicate balance of the planet's ecosystems.

The term "Waste Management" collectively means waste management from its inception to the final disposal stage. Thus, as one single unit, it encompasses right from the collection, disposal, and recycling to which the processes of monitoring and regulation, respectively, belong, along with the legal frameworks that enable the occurrence of waste management.

This 5-day interactive Fundamentals of Sustainable Waste Management training course will give some details on these various types of contaminants and the new frontiers in eliminating or minimising these contaminants, the use of effective non-hazardous products in your company, and environmentally acceptable methods of disposal for both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. The delegates will learn to use a range of tools to explore opportunities in waste prevention, reuse, and recycling, reducing management costs and creating commercial opportunities. Understanding energy generation from biological waste, including food waste, will also give delegates an insight into the advantages of managing waste and controlling pollution.

Core Objectives

The delegates will achieve the following objectives:

• Identify Waste Streams in the Organisation
• Share the value of Waste Streams for the organisation
• Implement techniques for waste management practices
• Evaluate the performance of current waste contractors and sub-contractors
• Audit the life cycle of waste
• Implement the 7 R’s in Waste Management
• Monitor and review performance

Training Approach

This training course will utilise various proven adult learning techniques to ensure maximum understanding, comprehension, and retention of the information presented, including lectures, videos, case studies, group discussions, and participation in group/individual workshop session activities. Delegates are encouraged to bring specific experiences and issues they are facing to the session for group discussion.

The Attendees

This training course is designed for waste managers and supervisors, including managers and supervisors in all waste-producing industries (e.g., manufacturing and retail). It is also ideal for municipal waste managers, planners (private and public sector), and anyone wishing to explore opportunities to manage waste.

Likewise, it will be valuable to the professionals but not limited to the following:

• Health and Safety Managers
• Environmental Managers
• Warehouse Staff
• Facility Managers
• Operations Personnel & Managers
• Shift Supervisors & Shift Team Leaders Process

Daily Discussion

DAY ONE: WASTE MANAGEMENT - AN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT 

• Waste Management Policies
• Sustainable Waste Management: Best practices
• Environmental Risks and Their Management and Control
• Managing Pollution in the Environment
• Understanding the Life Cycle of Waste

DAY TWO: WASTE PREVENTION

• Waste Prevention Best Practices in the Industry
• The True Cost of Waste
• Behaviour and Culture of Waste Management
• Industrial Solid Waste: Audits and Minimisation Strategies
• Management of Landfills
• Industrial Waste Strategies 

DAY THREE: WASTE REUSE AND RECYCLING

• The Role of Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs)
• The Role of Transfer Stations
• The Science of Composting in Waste Management
• Open Windrow Composting
• ‘In-Vessel Composting’ (IVC)
• Food Waste

DAY FOUR: WASTE RECOVERY

• AD of Food Waste
• Good practice in the Management of Food Waste
• Waste Incineration with Energy Recovery
• Energy from Waste Incineration (EfW)
• EfW for Municipal Waste
• Landfill: Hazards and Risks 

DAY FIVE: LAND WASTE DISPOSAL

• Principles of the Sustainable Landfill in Various Countries
• Landfill: Engineering Considerations
• Long-term Storage of Waste
• The Future of Waste Management
• Mapping of Organisation Objectives