Working Groups

The Working Group on Biological Treatment of Waste (WGBTW) addresses the biological treatment of the organic fraction of solid waste through aerobic and anaerobic decomposition processes.

The Working Group on Climate Change and Waste Management (WGCCWM), recognising that Climate Change is one of the most important global environmental issues facing our planet, advocates that the waste sector has a very important role to play. The Waste Sector has the option to be a net GHG reducer and many actions on how to achieve this have already been identified by the WGs predecessor the Task Force on Climate Change. The WG continues on from where the Task Force stopped. The WG on Climate Change and Waste Management is focused inter alia on conveying the message that sustainable waste management and recycling should be included in future international agreements (including NAMAs; extension of current Kyoto project mechanisms; new market mechanisms; sector approaches; access to funding…).

The Working Group on Collection and Transportation Technology (WGCTT) addresses the storage, collection, transfer and transport of solid waste.

The Working Group on Communication (WGC) addresses public concerns, comprising public support of and public opposition to waste management policies, public consultation and participation, and communication with focus on basic human attitudes towards waste.

The Working Group on Energy Recovery (WGER) addresses the energy recovery from municipal solid waste, comprising the combustion processes, the efficient production of energy, the control of emissions and the handling of residues.

The Working Group on Hazardous Waste (WGHW) focuses on the management of hazardous wastes from both industrial and household sources, and the remediation of hazardous waste sites resulting from unacceptable hazardous waste management practices.

The Working Group on Healthcare Waste (WGHCW) works on promoting the integrated provision of the infrastructure for the safe management of health care waste world-wide, within the framework of the objectives, activities and means of implementation established by Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference of the Environment and Development.

The Working Group on Landfill (WGL) focuses on the design, construction, regulation and management of landfills, both for industrial and developing nations. Management issues include operations, closure, and post-closure issues, including ground-water monitoring and testing, leachate management, landfill gas management, as well as the quantity and quality of the wastes landfilled.

The Working Group on Legal Issues (WGLI) serves as a platform for knowledge exchange and as the principal resource to ISWA on legal issues related to waste and resource management. The overall interest for the Working Group is the exchange of information and views on legal aspects concerning hot topics in waste management. Currently there is much focus on EU-waste legislation, environmental responsibility and the legal aspects of different kinds of public private partnership.

The Working Group on Recycling and Waste Minimisation (WGRWM) addresses both minimisation of solid waste generation and the separation, processing and marketing of materials removed from the municipal solid waste stream.