OCTOBER & NOVEMBER NEWS 2011

Dr Mike Templeton and Prof David Butler

Dr Mike Templeton and Prof David Butler of the University of Exeter (formerly of EWRE) have published an e-book entitled Introduction to Wastewater Treatment, available for free download at http://bookboon.com/en/textbooks/energy-environment/introduction-to-wastewater-treatment.

Dr Costas Velis is involved in a series of international events as a coordinating member of the ISWA Globalisation and Waste Management Task Force. The task force was commissioned by the International Solid Waste Association to address challenges around the long-term sustainability of waste management, resulting from the increased globalisation of human activities. It is scientifically led by Prof David C Wilson. Key themes include informal sector recycling, global flows of secondary materials and markets, and resource management in megacities. In 21-22 June 2011 Dr Velis organised and led an international expert workshop in Buenos Aires, where 20 experts from around the world gathered to make hands-on recommendations on integrating informal sector recyclers into waste management in developing country cities. The event indicates a historic shift, for the first time bringing together parties as diverse as the ISWA president and representatives of waste picker groups, and was widely publicised (recent ISWA news). Around the table were sociology and engineering academics, leading ISWA experts, and representatives of the local authorities, including the cities of Copenhagen and Rio de Janeiro. Rio representatives elaborated the relevant newly introduced management programmes for waste pickers integration (follow via Web-RESOL), in preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Dr Costas Velis also delivered a key invited lecture in the  ISWA Beacon Conference on Waste Prevention and Recycling, held in Buenos Aires, in parallel with the workshop, attended by more than 600 South American participants (presentation: Informal sector and recycling – global experiences. Key steps towards effective inclusion in 21st century SWM systems).