Dear ISWA members, partners, sponsors, and supporters,
I would like to extend my warmest wishes to all of you during this holiday season. It is a time for joy, reflection, and gratitude, while also a moment of heartfelt concern for parts of the world facing unrest, injustice, and the urgent need for improved waste management practices.
I wish you a happy holiday season filled with love, laughter, and cherished moments. Your dedication and contributions to ISWA and to your countries have been invaluable. This year, I had the privilege of visiting many countries and participating in events and conferences that were highly impactful for your regions and communities. I will always remember the people I met along the way, your kindness, your enthusiasm for better waste management, and your strong desire to connect and collaborate. Thank you. I am truly grateful for your hard work and commitment, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration and supporting your activities in the year ahead.
This year also marked an important milestone for me personally—my first full year serving as ISWA President. Looking back, what stands out most is the strength of our community and the momentum we are building together. I want to extend my deepest appreciation to our Scientific and Technical Committee, our National Members, the ISWA Board, and the General Secretariat for their dedication and professionalism throughout the year.
One of the defining moments of 2025 was our ISWA World Congress in Buenos Aires (27–29 October). It was a powerful demonstration of what we can achieve through knowledge exchange and collaboration, bringing together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and innovators from around the globe. The theme—“Re-Imagine Waste: Towards a Wasteless Future or a Wasteful Planet?”—was more than a headline; it was a call to action. The Congress also reminded us of the continuity of ISWA’s mission, including a special moment where ISWA past Presidents joined in a shared message: we must accelerate the transition to a circular economy and reimagine waste as a resource.
That same spirit of action carried into our work on the global stage. I am pleased to share that at COP30 in Belém, as well as at several important side events in Rio, we successfully amplified ISWA’s voice with our partners and sponsors. Together, we advocated for stronger integration of waste management into Nationally Determined Contributions and advanced the “3Ds” agenda—Decouple waste from economic growth, Defossilise, and Decontaminate—on the road to delivery. My sincere thanks to our sponsors and partners for making this possible and for raising the visibility of ISWA on this important global platform.
I would also like to highlight the great success of the first-ever Beacon Conference in Xi’an, China, organised by our National Member CAUES. The conference was attended by many ISWA Board members and coincided with our in-person Board meeting in Xi’an, making it a truly memorable and productive occasion.
Another highlight of the year was the very successful and warm reception at the León 450 International Seminar, organised by two leading waste collection companies, GISA (Gestión e Innovación en Servicios Ambientales) and PASA (Promotora Ambiental). Their clear vision for modernising waste management systems, supported by the City of León, Mexico, is both inspiring and encouraging.
As we look ahead to 2026, ISWA will build on the momentum of this year: scaling circular solutions, empowering communities, and strengthening global collaboration—while championing the technologies, policies, and partnerships that turn ambition into real-world results. I am confident that, together with our members, sponsors and partners, we can continue to grow ISWA’s impact and help shape waste management as a practical, essential solution for climate action, public health, and sustainable development.
As we look ahead to the new year, let us carry the spirit of the holidays with us by spreading kindness, fostering unity, collaboration, and cooperation, and continuing to support one another. May this festive season bring you and your loved ones peace, happiness, and prosperity.
Once again, Happy Holidays to you all. May they be bright, and may the new year be filled with success and joy.
Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you in 2026.
Truly yours,
James Law
