ISWA is pleased to announce that Mr. Timothy Paul Byrne from the UK is the first candidate to be awarded "International Waste Manager - Technical Status".

ISWA's programme on professional qualifications has extended its categories this year to include "International Waste Manager - Technical Status". This change was made to respond to a demand from waste managers who may not be academically qualified but that have a wealth of experience and knowledge. In order to move up to a higher status the applicant will have to demonstrate continuous professional development and undertake a full interview.

For information about ISWA's certification programme, please click here.

This report was written and edited by Gernot Kreindl with the support of the ISWA Working Group on Collection and Transportation Technology. The aim of the report is to provide waste management professionals with an overview of the present situation of waste transfer stations in different, mainly European regions. General aspects about the management of transfer stations is included, as well as more detailed information

Click here to access the document download link.

This report was prepared by Michael Pieber in cooperation with the ISWA Working Group on Collection and Transport Technology. The report covers the systems used by cities and towns in Europe for public street cleansing and avoiding littering.

Click here to access the document download link.

Researchers from the University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR) have calculated the energy and economic potential of urban solid waste, sludge from water treatment plants and livestock slurry for generating electricity in Spain. These residues are alternative sources of renewable energy, which are more environmentally friendly and, in the case of solid urban waste, more cost effective.

The study, published in the latest issue of the journal Renewable Energy, has shown that waste in Spain could generate between 8.13 and 20.95 TWh (terawatt hours). "This electricity generation was 7.2% of electricity demand in 2008," says says Norberto Fueyo, lead author of the study and a researcher at the Fluid Mechanics Group of the UNIZAR.

The researchers stress that the amount of methane generated from different kinds of residues is equivalent to 7.6% of gas consumption in 2008.

In terms of the economic cost, "solid urban waste is the most cost-effective," according to the researcher, because local authorities carry out the waste collection and local inhabitants pay for it. Since the waste is transported to large landfill sites or waste treatment plants, installing electricity generation systems "could take advantage of economies of scale due to the large volumes involved."

Source: ScienceDaily
FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology. "Waste Could Generate Up to 7 Percent of Electricity in Spain." ScienceDaily 23 February 2010. 24 February 2010 http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2010/02/100223100706.htm.

The European Plastics Recyclers Association (EuPR) has published a paper offering an analysis of the plastics industry profile, paying special attention to plastics recycling. The paper also provides an overview of the current post-consumer plastics recovery process, underlining the benefits of mechanical recycling.

EuPR gives a recommendation of ten fundamental actions to increase the recycling of post-consumer plastics waste.

Copies of the EuPR paper How to increase the mechanical recycling of post-consumer plastics can be downloaded from the Association's website

Based on a recent geological survey jointly released by Beijing Municipal Government and the Ministry of Land and Resources, Beijing will classify its landfill areas and divide it into three kinds - no landfill area, area with restricted landfill, and area suitable for landfill.

China CSR reports that the survey, which is named "Multi-parameter and Three Dimensional Geographical Survey of Beijing", states there are 490 domestic waste fields in the plain around Beijing, of which 125 pose high pollution risks, 160 pose medium pollution risks, and 205 low pollution risks. These have a total area of 10.773 million square meters.

The survey also shows that there are 468 places vulnerable to geological disasters in Beijing. It also says that the total quantity of underground water extracted from the plain around Beijing should be no more than 2.1 billion m3 per year.

Operators of anaerobic digestion facilities can now attain a standard which proves that their digestate is safe to spread on land after WRAP published its long-awaited British Safety Standard for digestate.

Operators that meet the standard and gain certification can say the digestate they produce meets a minimum standard and is safe for use as a fertiliser or soil improver. It is hoped that the safety standard, along with the Quality Protocol will remove barriers to increasing anaerobic digestion in England, Scotland and Wales by helping to boost markets for digestate. Producers that sign up to the PAS 110 will be expected to ensure that digested materials are made using suitable inputs and effectively processed by anaerobic digestion (AD) for sufficient time; and to ensure that the process has been well managed and monitored so as to produce digested material that meets market needs and protects the environment. Any producer who claims digested material conforms to PAS 110 must ensure that it is fit for purpose at all times.

Nina Sweet, organics technical specialist at WRAP, who helped to develop the PAS 110, said: "The introduction of BSI PAS 110 is a fundamental step in helping to develop sustainable markets for biofertilisers. Making it easier for farmers to use biofertiliser will increase demand within the agricultural community for fertilising and soil conditioning products derived from waste material. This will reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers which has obvious environmental and economic benefits for the agricultural industry."

AD operators have welcomed the scheme; Jake Prior, operations director at Devon-based Andigestion which supplies 40 farms with digestate, commented that the PAS 110 will "provide important validation for farmers that biofertiliser is a safe, effective and environmentally friendly product".

He said the PAS 110 would save AD operators money because it would reduce the need to apply for waste exemptions on behalf of the agricultural sector which cost up to £500 each.

The document will be made available on the WRAP Composting pages soon: www.wrap.org.uk

Source: LetsRecycle.com

The exact nature of any proposed ban or restriction will be informed by the outcomes of a joint consultation between between Wales, Defra and the other devolved administrations, into the benefits and practicalities of banning or restricting particular wastes from landfill, which is expected to be launched in March.

The WAG proposals form part of a Measure, covering four waste issues, laid before the National Assembly on February 22 by Welsh environment minister Jane Davidson.

Included in the Measure laid before the National Assembly are also proposals to grant the WAG powers to set statutory municipal waste recycling and composting targets for local authorities, and the power to fine councils which fail to achieve these goals.

This proposal would give the WAG the ability to enforce goals set-out in its draft 'Towards Zero Waste' strategy for Wales, such as a 70% municipal waste recycling and composting target for 2025.

Ms Davidson said: "If successful the Waste Measure will enable us to achieve the ambitions set out in our strategy 'Towards Zero Waste' - that is becoming a high recycling country by 2025 and a zero waste country by 2050."

The fourth element of the Measure is a proposal to introduce fees and a charging scheme for Site Waste Management Plans with regards to the construction and demolition sector in Wales.

The National Assembly will now scrutinise the Measure and is expected to report on it by June 25, with a vote of the full plenary of the Assembly due after the summer recess.

Source: LetsRecycle.com

On February 8, The Irish Times reported that Prof Richard Tol, senior environmental specialist with the institute, denied that the report, An Economic Approach to Municipal Waste Management Policy in Ireland, was being "withdrawn" - as claimed in a newspaper on February 7. When the report was published at the beginning of February, Prof Tol said the ESRI had been made aware of a number of errors in it.

For the full story, visit The Irish Times

A research group at the Lund University has calculated the figures on behalf of the Swedish Energy Agency after having analysed a biogas plant in Skåne. The case study will make it easier to study and optimise other biogas facilities. In Sweden there are some 20 similar plants, producing biogas for use in cars and other vehicles. As much vehicle gas is produced by sewage treatment works that produce biogas from sewage sludge.

"The plant we have studied is fairly representative of an average biogas plant that processes waste and manure. In our study we have calculated emissions for the entire production chain and included both direct and indirect emissions. What is particular to our study is that we have included indirect factors that have not previously been taken into account, for example how the ground is affected when mineral fertiliser is replaced with bio-fertiliser. In addition, methane leaching from the plant is measured and not based on standard data that is often otherwise used in this kind of analysis," points out Mikael Lantz, doctoral student in Environmental and Energy Systems Studies at Lund University.

The researchers also observed that the biogas releases 16 gram/kWh biogas of the greenhouse gases methane, laughing gas and carbon dioxide. These emissions are around 95 percent lower than from gasoline and significantly better than the standard values used today.

In order to make the biogas even more climate-friendly, the researchers propose that the plants should be heated using wood chips, which could also be cheaper for the biogas producer.

Source: ScienceDaily
Expertanswer . "Biogas Climate Benefit Greater Than Previously Thought?." ScienceDaily 23 February 2010. 24 February 2010 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100218092611.htm