George Lucian Pavel
Head of Environmental Department, Klarwin
Who we are
Klarwin is a leading provider of sustainable waste management solutions, actively contributing to environmental protection and regulatory compliance in Romania and the Central and Eastern European region. With expertise spanning leachate treatment, landfill gas management, and long-term post-closure monitoring, Klarwin supports operators in implementing sustainable waste management practices tailored to their specific needs.
The company offers advanced solutions for the treatment of leachate, utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as reverse osmosis to ensure the safe discharge or reuse of treated water. Klarwin’s services include the full project lifecycle, from design and implementation to long-term maintenance and optimization, guaranteeing reliable system performance.
Beyond leachate treatment, Klarwin provides support in managing landfill gas emissions and offers comprehensive assistance to operators in developing and maintaining sustainable waste management strategies. This includes technical consultancy, system implementation, and compliance monitoring, ensuring alignment with both local and international environmental standards.
As Head of the Environmental Department at Klarwin, I lead projects in waste management, industrial, drinking, and wastewater treatment, air quality solutions, and related aftermarket and field services. My mission is to drive innovation and sustainability in these critical areas, ensuring both efficiency and environmental responsibility.
I joined Klarwin 20 years ago, fresh out of the Industrial Chemistry Faculty at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest. Even then, I had already gained three years of hands-on experience as a technician and sales representative, which provided me with a solid foundation in both the technical and commercial aspects of the industry.
Growing up in Tulcea, near the Danube Delta—one of the world’s most renowned natural reserves—I was deeply inspired by nature. I initially aspired to become a Greenpeace activist, and my passion led me to immerse myself in various specialist and naturalist groups during high school, studying biology, botany, ornithology, and geology. I was also involved in founding the Romanian Ornithology Society under the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (UK), an experience that shaped my skills in advocacy, public speaking, and teamwork.
My enthusiasm for blending science, research, and development with project management, presentations, and debate naturally guided me toward Klarwin. Here, I found an environment that enabled me to build business opportunities in Pall Corporation’s industrial sectors, spanning machinery, refineries, oil & gas, chemical complexes, waste landfills, drinking water, primary metals, and automotive production.
Over the past two decades, my work has taken me to around 30 countries, where I have built teams, expanded markets, and helped transform organizations. I take great pride in developing strategies, introducing innovative products, and turning them into industry leaders. Currently, my focus is on implementing advanced technologies for municipal waste landfills, ensuring both sustainability and profitability. We are also pioneering solutions to make clean water more accessible through non-revenue water detection methods and biomimetic membranes, while enhancing climate resilience with next-generation landfill facilities.
With AI, drones, digitalization, and sensor technology redefining the industry, we are witnessing an unprecedented era of innovation. Simply put, there are not enough hours in the day to satisfy our drive to learn and improve lives.
What inspired you to join ISWA, and how has ISWA helped in your career?
From an early age, I was drawn to organisations where I could connect with like-minded individuals. When I began developing Klarwin’s waste management and landfill business, I sought a community that shared my passion and spoke the same language. ISWA proved to be the perfect fit, offering unparalleled knowledge, mentorship, and business networking opportunities. Over the years, it has introduced me to some of the most brilliant minds in the field.
One such connection was James Law, whom I met more than a decade ago. His expertise in landfill construction and management has always impressed me, and I often wished he were based in Europe rather than the U.S. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Copenhagen incinerator and landfill with him and Rene—a visit that left me deeply inspired.
Today, ISWA continues to provide even greater opportunities for collaboration and learning, which is more important than ever as we work to tackle the pressing challenges of global waste management.
What are the biggest projects/ initiatives in waste management that your organisation has achieved so far?
Since its founding in 2004, Klarwin has been at the forefront of introducing cutting-edge technologies to Romanian landfills—many of which were so advanced that the necessary terminology didn’t even exist in our vocabulary at the time. Our unique approach has provided landfill operators with expertise drawn from over 500 landfills worldwide, delivering easy-to-install, highly efficient leachate treatment solutions.
Today, Klarwin offers more than 30 specialized products and services, integrating state-of-the-art technologies that enable landfill operators to maximize profitability while adhering to the highest compliance standards. As a result, Romania has emerged as a global leader in landfill leachate treatment, achieving discharge values that surpass even those of some of the world’s most advanced countries. Furthermore, our landfill gas capture and high-temperature combustion projects—operating at 1,100°C—are among the largest in Central and Eastern Europe.
Two years ago, Klarwin took a bold step forward by designing and implementing complex landfill closures and developing new landfill cells using advanced geospatial technology. These innovations require minimal manpower while ensuring maximum efficiency. Thanks to our efforts, Romania and neighboring countries are on track to develop some of the most digitalized and modern landfills in the world. Our proprietary landfill tomography system, Geoklast, empowers operators to visualize internal landfill structures, optimizing operational parameters in real time. Through Klarwin, landfill operators now have access to an unparalleled level of control and technological sophistication.
What are your biggest challenges so far?
Our greatest challenge is education. Waste management is rarely taught in schools or universities, which is why, for over 20 years, Klarwin has made education its top priority. We don’t just develop advanced solutions—we build knowledge. Our business developers are more than exceptional engineers; they must also be outstanding educators.
Transitioning from dumps to engineered landfills is a complex, multi-year process. Klarwin engineers must be persistent, patient, and ambitious, as their efforts often take two to three years to materialize. Introducing cutting-edge technologies to Eastern European markets means breaking barriers, developing industry-specific terminology, proving performance, and securing financing—all while navigating evolving regulations.
Another major challenge is the ongoing brain drain in Eastern Europe. Since Romania’s accession to the EU in 2007, the region has faced a significant shortage of skilled professionals. Attracting and retaining top talent remains an ongoing effort, requiring us to create an environment where expertise, innovation, and long-term career growth thrive.
In your opinion, what are the most pressing issues in the waste sector that should be addressed today?
Waste management is deeply rooted in culture. The habits and traditions of each country play a crucial role in shaping waste management performance. Unfortunately, many waste policies in Eastern Europe are drafted in Western offices without fully considering local landscapes, behaviors, and urban development patterns.
One of the key challenges is the gap between expectations and reality. With 60,000 to 90,000 people emigrating from Eastern Europe to other EU countries each year, ensuring the timely execution of EU-funded projects becomes increasingly difficult. Penalizing these countries for project delays, while their skilled workforce contributes to infrastructure development elsewhere, can create additional challenges.
Moreover, setting realistic expectations is crucial. Western Europe took more than 50 years to reach its current level of waste management efficiency, and expecting Eastern Europe to achieve the same results in just 20 years is an ambitious goal. Strategic prioritization is key, with the first step being the diversion of organic waste from landfills. However, this fundamental issue is often overlooked in favor of more complex but less impactful initiatives. Addressing waste management challenges requires a region-specific approach rather than a one-size-fits-all policy framework.
What trends in waste management excite you the most?
In Eastern Europe, the most exciting developments are those that empower individuals to take greater control over their waste.
One particularly promising initiative is the Quatro System, widely adopted in Nordic countries. By allowing citizens to sort waste into eight categories at home, this system significantly improves recycling efficiency and long-term sustainability.
Another transformative trend is the shift toward viewing landfills as resource mines rather than waste repositories. Technologies that capture landfill gas for biomethane injection into natural gas grids, advanced leachate treatment systems that return clean water to the ecosystem, and improved material recovery processes are redefining waste management. Biomimetic water treatment technologies, in particular, are driving sustainability in industrial waste management by mimicking nature’s most efficient filtration mechanisms.
Additionally, the digitalization of landfills is not only enhancing operational efficiency but also making the field more attractive to younger generations. As technology reshapes waste management, the industry is evolving into a dynamic, high-tech sector with immense potential for innovation and environmental impact.
What role do you see ISWA play in driving sustainable practices globally?
ISWA develops some of the world’s most comprehensive waste management guidelines, distilling expert knowledge into practical, actionable strategies. However, its influence at the governmental level remains underutilized. For meaningful progress, policymakers worldwide should integrate ISWA’s guidelines as a foundational framework for shaping effective waste management policies.
How can ISWA members collaborate more effectively to address shared challenges?
Professional training programs like ISWA’s summer and winter schools are invaluable and should be continued. Furthermore, ISWA must strengthen its visibility at the governmental level to establish itself as the leading strategic advisor for national waste management policies.
ISWA has an active Young Professionals Group. What would your advice be to them looking to make a difference in the waste sector?
Master life cycle analysis and concentrate on the critical steps that will have the most significant impact. Rather than spreading efforts across numerous small initiatives, focus on the key actions needed to drive meaningful change in your country and commit fully to their implementation. True waste management transformation takes decades—small, well-executed steps lead to the greatest long-term results.
