Who We Are
The Austrian Association of Cities and Towns (AACT) represents 260 member cities and towns in Austria. Besides Vienna and the regional capital cities, all larger cities with more than 10.000 inhabitants are members of our Association. We represent the interests of our members to policymakers and the public alike.
In about 40 technical committees and working groups, our members have the chance to exchange experiences. One of these committees is the Technical Committee for Waste Management and Urban Cleaning. The chairman is Rainer Kronberger from Vienna, and the Deputy Chairman is Alexandra Loidl from Graz.
What are the biggest projects/ initiatives in waste management that your organisation has achieved so far?
As Association of Cities and Towns (AACT) we are interested in connecting best practice performers. In the field of waste management, we are very proud to be a founding member of ISWA Austria in 1994. Together with ISWA Austria, we were organising and supporting numerous Study Tours in Austria in order to make available the experiences of Austrian Cities and Towns in waste management for international experts and ISWA members respectively.
Besides in 1992 the so called Know-how Transfer Centre (KTC) was established within AACT to offer cities and municipalities in the new states of Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus region a contact point for administrative cooperation with Austria.
What do you think are the most pressing issues in the waste sector that should be addressed today?
In terms of waste management, the biggest challenge in the world is the dumping of waste on land and water, still. On the one hand, this leads to methane emissions and to a significant contribution to climate change respectively. On the other hand, it leads to marine litter – a big problem in a lot of regions in the world already.
What are the trends in waste management excites you the most?
We see that waste management is no longer an “end of pipe” – business. “Design for Reuse” and “Design for Recycling” is starting integrated into production processes.
What role do you see ISWA play in driving sustainable practices globally?
ISWA is very important as a driver for sustainability! Decision makers need reliable facts and figures. So, ISWA and its experts are the basis for change to a better future.
How can ISWA members collaborate more effectively to address shared challenges?
We think that a twinning programme between National Members would help a lot. For instance, BASWA, the National Member of Bosnia/Herzegowina, and ISWA Austria, the National Member of Austria, started a twinning programme in 2017. This resulted in closer cooperation and a fruitful exchange of experiences in the last years
ISWA has an active Young Professionals Group as a special task force, what would be your advice to them looking to make a difference in the waste sector?
Every year ISWA Austria invites young students or scientists to submit their master’s or PhD thesis dealing with waste management or circular economy to achieve a special “ISWA-package”. The package includes a free ISWA membership for two years and financial support up to 3.000 €, whereas 2.000 € should cover travel costs to ISWA events such as the ISWA World Congress. This sponsorship started in 2001. Our first “winner” was Arne Ragossnig, now vice-president of ISWA! So, young professionals in the past become the backbone of international waste management in future!
