Symposium Themes

The Symposium will last five days and will deal with municipal and commercial solid waste, hazardous waste, special waste including the following topics:

A. Waste policy and legislation

National and regional guidelines; regulation and planning requirements; role of scientific and technical bodies as well as associations.

B. Waste management strategies

Integrated waste management; national and local strategies; zero waste management; future perspectives.

C. Public participation and education

Public involvement and relationship; NGO activities; mediation; education; communication; training in waste management and operation, public and occupational health impacts of waste management.

D. Waste management assessment and decision tools

Life cycle analysis; risk assessment; environmental impact assessment; EMAS; quality control procedures; cost benefit analysis; multi-criteria analysis; auditing.

E. Waste characterisation as a tool for waste management strategies

Standardisation; analytical procedures.

F. New concepts for waste collection

Cost optimisation; on-demand collection; separate collection; case studies, subsurface systems.

G. Waste minimisation and recycling

Waste avoidance; waste logistics and recycling; new recycling technologies; material quality after recycling; packaging material; electronic waste; construction and demolition waste; batteries; end of life vehicles; market waste.

H. Biological treatment

New developments in composting and anaerobic digestion; emissions from processing facilities; product quality.

I. Thermal treatment and advanced conversion technologies

Technology and experiences; new technologies; production and use of RDF; emission control; treatment of residues; beneficial use of combustion ash.

L. Mechanical biological treatment prior to landfilling

Mechanical pretreatment (separation, shredding, RDF-production, etc.); technology and experience; new technology, testing and landfill acceptance; off gas treatment; emission control.

M. Sanitary landfilling

Sustainable landfill concepts for municipal and special waste; processes and emissions; leachate and gas management; landfill design and construction; barrier design and long-term performance; waste mechanics; landfill operation; administrative and financial aspects; landfilling under specific conditions (tropical, islands, mountains, etc.); aftercare and reuse; landfill remediation; cost studies; cases.

N. Integrated wastewater and solid waste management

Decentralized systems; closed substance cycles; future perspectives; cases.

O. Waste management and climate change

Minimisation of greenhouse gases from waste management activities and landfills, waste – CDM projects, minimisation of energy consumption, landfills as geological sinks for carbon and other elements.

P. Waste management in developing and low income countries

Appropriate technologies, experiences, international cooperation, financing, education.

Q. Special sessions

BAT - Best Available Technologies; IPPC regulations

Due to their relevance, all these subjects will be presented in parallel sessions, specialised sessions, workshops and poster sessions. Offers of papers for workshops are also welcome.