The ISWA Italian Study Tour offers an in-depth exploration of how sustainable, integrated recycling and waste minimisation systems are conceived, financed, and operated in practice.
Organised by the ISWA Working Group on Recycling and Waste Minimisation, in collaboration with Atia ISWA Italia and Politecnico di Milano, the tour welcomes up to 25 waste management professionals seeking direct insights into one of Europe’s most successful integrated recycling models.
Through a combination of expert lectures, interactive discussions, and guided visits to operational facilities in northern Italy, participants will experience the full spectrum of recycling and recovery practices, including packaging waste sorting and recycling, textile waste recovery, and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) treatment. Complementary recovery options within the broader waste management system will also be presented, providing a balanced understanding of integrated resource management.
Building on over three decades of European leadership in recycling and circular economy practices, the tour bridges academic knowledge with operational reality. Participants will gain practical competencies to:
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Structuring sustainable recycling systems within the regulatory and policy framework of the circular economy.
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Designing, financing, and operating material recovery and recycling facilities at small and medium scales.
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Implementing effective collection strategies for both municipal and commercial waste streams
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Managing residual waste fractions, including hazardous components, in line with best environmental practices.
This immersive, practice-focused experience will empower professionals to translate proven European approaches into adaptable models for their local or regional waste management contexts.
Organized in partnership with:
Key Highlights
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Hands-on Learning in Europe’s Circular Economy Hub
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Nine Exclusive Technical Site Visits
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Expert Lectures and Interactive Discussions
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Focus on Packaging, Textile, and WEEE sorting and recycling
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Networking with Global Waste Management Professionals
What You’ll Take Away
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A deep understanding of sustainable recycling frameworks.
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New professional connections and collaboration opportunities.
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Inspiration from Italy’s leadership in waste minimization and recycling.
Main sponsors of the tour:
LECTURE AND WORKSHOP TOPICS
FACILITIES AND PLANT VISITS
The lectures and workshops during the one week study tour will dive into the following topics:
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Integrated waste management system, regulatory framework in Italy and waste collection strategies
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Extended product responsibility
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Textile waste and economic issues of waste collection and management
The study tour involves many site visits, below you will find an overview what visits are included:
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Large-scale collection facility
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a PRO
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a plastic recycling facility and aluminium recycling plant
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a glass sorting facility
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a WEEE recycling plant
THE PROGRAMME
Sunday, 10 May 2026
Recommended arrival day for all participants.
Monday, 11 May 2026
Seminar in Milan and site visit to a large-scale collection facility: overview of integrated waste management system, regulatory framework in Italy and waste collection strategies. Afternoon: visit to a small-scale collection plant.
Tuesday, 12 May 2026
Seminar on EPR and visit to a PRO. Visit to a plastic sorting plant.
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
Visit to a plastic recycling facility and Aluminium recycling plant.
Thursday, 14 May 2026
Visit to a glass sorting facility and a WEEE recycling plant.
Friday, 15 May 2026
Seminars in Milan on textile waste and economic issues of waste collection and management. Closing session and certificates in the afternoon. Optional guided city tour of Milan in the afternoon!
IMPRESSION FROM PREVIOUS STUDY TOURS
LOGISTICS
Dates Study Tour: 11 – 15 May 2026
Venue: Multiple locations around Milan.
More information to be shared soon.
Accommodation: Milano Città Studi
Part of the registration fee is a 6 night hotel room stay (10 – 16 May 2026) at Milano Città Studi.
If you would like to arrive earlier or stay longer, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can look into booking additional nights with a negotiated rate. Participants will be accommodated in comfortable, single room hotels with breakfast and WiFi.
This hotel is 7-minute walk from the M2 green metro Piola-Politecnico-Città studi, close to the Duomo Cathedral and a few tram stops to Porta Venezia, a great area with bars and restaurants. It is also a 5 minute-walk to Politecnico, where the kick-off and closing sessions ofthe study tour will take place.
Arrival and departure dates
Recommended date of arrival: Sunday, 10 May 2026
Recommended date of departure: Friday (evening) 15 or Saturday, 16 May 2026 (closing ceremony in afternoon)
STUDY TOUR LEADER
Mario Grosso
Prof. Ing. Mario Grosso, PhD
Mario GROSSO graduated in Environmental Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, where he also
earned a PhD in Sanitary Engineering on the subject of PCDD/F formation and destruction
mechanisms in municipal waste incineration plants.
He currently serves as Associate Professor at the DICA Department of Politecnico di Milano, where
he coordinates the AWARE (Assessment on WAste and REsources) research group. Research
activities include waste prevention, technologies for recovery and disposal of solid waste and of
residues, integrated waste management, flue gas treatment technologies for industrial plants,
definition of scenarios for emission reduction, as well as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Research is
funded by both public and private sectors, including some competitive funding.
He has co-authored more than 250 publications, 108 of which in ISI-rated journals (as of October
2025), and has attended a number of international conferences and symposia.
He regularly teaches “Solid waste management and treatment” and “Climate change mitigation”
Master Courses at Politecnico di Milano. He has teached “Bio-energy and waste-to-energy
technologies”, as well as “Principles of technologies for environmental protection” at L. Bocconi
University.
He is president of the technical-scientific committee of the LEAP laboratory in Piacenza, as well as
co-founder and member of the Scientific Board of the “MatER” Research Center, established
within LEAP.
He is Associate Editor of “Waste Management & Research – The Journal for a Sustainable Circular
Economy” since May 2015.
He was founder of AIAT (the Italian environmental engineers’ associations), where he coordinates
the Scientific Committee. He is vice-president of ENEP, the European Network of Environmental
Professionals, after having served as the General Secretary. He is member of the Scientific
Committee of “Climalteranti” (www.climalteranti.it), a scientific blog dealing with the climate
change debate.
He is member of IWWG (International Waste Working Group), of ISWA (International Solid Waste
Association), of GITISA (the Italian network of Sanitary-Environmental Engineering) and of the
Italian LCA network. He has been part of the International Expert Group (IEG) on LCA applied to
waste management.
In 2013 he visited the Institute for Thermal Power Engineering at the Zhejiang University in
Hangzhou (China), where he gave some lectures on waste management and LCA and advised some
PhD students. In 2014 he visited the Department of Environmental Engineering at the Kyoto
University (Japan).
PRICING & REGISTRATION
Register for the ISWA study tour by selecting one of the ticket options below.
Early bird fees will be available until 15 February 2026.
Overall registration will close 15 March 2026.
- Registration fees include accommodation with breakfast from 10 – 16 May 2026, course participation, course materials, refreshments, lunch and a welcome dinner on 10 May 2026, as well as transportation and visits to the recycling plants.
- Online ISWA memberships do not allow for the discounted fee.
- Upon registration, participants accept all arrangements by ISWA, ISWA ATIA Italy and Politecnico di Milano. The organisers do not assume liability during field demonstrations and technical visits. Travel health insurance is advisable. The programme may be subject to change. Participants will receive a Certificate of Participation.
Scholarships for:
Low/low-middle income economies
- Five (5) participants maximum from low-income economies (according to the current World Bank list) may receive a 50% discount on the registration fee, based on the regular registration fee (also if registering during the Early Bird fee period).
- Two (2) participants maximum from low-middle-income economies (according to the current World Bank list) may receive a 20% discount on the registration fee, based on the regular registration fee (also if registering during the Early Bird fee period).
To submit a request for these discounts, please send an email to events@iswa.org with the following information:
- Partipant first name
- Participant last name
- Title/function
- E-mail address
- Organisation name
- Full organisation’s location address
Students
- Three (3) students may receive a 50% discount on the registration fee, based on the regular registration fee (also if registering during the Early Bird fee period). To submit a request for a student discount, please send an email to events@iswa.org with the following information:
- Partipant first name
- Participant last name
- University/institution name
- Copy of current enrollment to the university/institution (showing clearly that you are a current student)
- E-mail address
All discounts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once all discounted spots have been filled, participants will need to register at the standard rate applicable at the time of registration (either the early bird or regular fee).
Cancellation Policy
ISWA reserves the right to cancel the course if the minimum number of participants is not reached.
Minimum number of participants: 13
Registration may be transferred to a nominated representative. Any cancellation of registration must be submitted in writing to ISWA by e-mail: events@iswa.org. In case of cancellation of a registrant, the below cancellation rules apply.
Cancellation and refund will be subject to the following conditions:
- Cancellation until 1 March 2026: 50% refund
- Cancellation until 20 March 2026: 10% refund
- Cancellation after 20 March 2026 or “no show”: No refund
In case of cancellation of the study tour due to unforeseeable events including pandemic regulations:
- ISWA will refund the registration fee but no other costs incurred prior to cancellation. Bank transfer costs will be deducted from any refund.
Early Bird - Regular Registration
- available until 15 February 2026. This price does not include 21% VAT.
Early Bird - ISWA Member Registration
- Available until 15 February 2026. This price does not include 21% VAT.
Regular Registration
- available until 15 March 2026. This price does not include 21% VAT.
ISWA Member Registration
- Available until 15 March 2026. This price does not include 21% VAT.
See you in Italy!
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How can I receive a letter of invitation?
If you require a VISA to enter Italy we can provide you with a letter of invitation confirming your registration for the study tour. Please send an email to events@iswa.org to request a letter of invitation. Please note that we do not provide letters of invitation before a confirmed and paid registration and we advise to check with the embassy in your country for how much time you need to apply, proceed and obtain your visa.
Will I receive a certificate of participation?
Yes, you will receive a certificate of participation at the end study tour.
Are scholarships available?
Yes, scholarships for low/lower-middle income economies and students are available.
Low/low-middle income economies
- Five (5) participants maximum from low-income economies (according to the current World Bank list) may receive a 50% discount on the registration fee, based on the regular registration fee (also if registering during the Early Bird fee period).
- Two (2) participants maximum from low-middle-income economies (according to the current World Bank list) may receive a 20% discount on the registration fee, based on the regular registration fee (also if registering during the Early Bird fee period).
To submit a request for these discounts, please send an email to events@iswa.org with the following information:
- Partipant first name
- Participant last name
- Title/function
- E-mail address
- Organisation name
- Full organisation’s location address
Students
- Three (3) students may receive a 50% discount on the registration fee, based on the regular registration fee (also if registering during the Early Bird fee period). To submit a request for a student discount, please send an email to events@iswa.org with the following information:
- Partipant first name
- Participant last name
- University/institution name
- Copy of current enrollment to the university/institution (showing clearly that you are a current student)
- E-mail address
All discounts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once all discounted spots have been filled, participants will need to register at the standard rate applicable at the time of registration (either the early bird or regular fee).
How can I indicate my dietary requirements?
The registration form has the option to provide us with your dietary requirements, please indicate them there or send and email to events@iswa.org.
CONTACT US
Get in touch if you have any questions or comments.
Daphne de Leeuw
International Event Manager ISWA
Contact Daphne for registration matters or to cancel registration
Email: events@iswa.org
Phone number: +31 (0)10 808 3990
Mario Grosso
Contact Mario Grosso for questions on the program, location & infrastructure.
Email: mario.grosso@gmail.com