PROGRAM
09:00 – 09:10
REGISTRATION AND WELCOME COFFEE BREAK
REGISTRATION AND WELCOME COFFEE BREAK
09:00 – 09:10
Main Congress Hall
Welcome Remarks by ISWA 2023 World Congress Host
Eng. Tarik Al Amri, CEO, be’ah (Oman)
09:10 – 09:20
Main Congress Hall
Welcome Address
H.E. Mansoor Al Hinai, Chairman, Authority for Public Services Regulation (Oman)
09:20 – 09:30
Main Congress Hall
Opening Highlights by ISWA
Carlos Silva Filho, President, ISWA (Brazil)
09:30 – 10:00
Main Congress Hall
Keynote Address #1
Simon Baptist, Global Chief Economist, The Economist Intelligence Unit (Singapore)
Climate and Circular Economy
In this keynote, the speaker will address some of the key links between climate change mitigation and sound waste management towards a circular economy. ISWA has estimated that taking bold action on transitioning to a circular economy and improving waste management has the potential of mitigating around 20% of the global CO2 eq emissions.
10:00 – 11:00
Main Congress Hall
Panel Discussion #1
Global Citizenship
This session highlights the importance of individual and collective actions in addressing climate change and promoting sustainability. It underscores the role of individuals, communities, organizations and nations in actively engaging with climate-related challenges and making a positive impact on the environment.
Moderator: Simon Baptist, Global Chief Economist, The Economist Intelligence Unit (Singapore)
– Carlos Silva Filho, President, ISWA (Brazil)
– Eng. Tarik Al Amri, CEO, beáh (Oman)
– Pascal Grante, CEO, Veolia Near and Middle East (UAE)
– Eng. Ziyad Al-Shiha, Group CEO, Saudi Investment Recycling Company (Saudi Arabia)
– Eng. Ali Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and CEO, Tadweer (UAE)
11:00 – 11:30
Main Congress Hall
Appreciation Ceremony
11:30 – 13:00
EXPO OPENING (Exhibition Area) & LUNCH BREAK (Atrium)
AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS
13:00 – 15:30
Theme 1: Protecting human health & the quality of the environment
Theme 2: Mitigating climate change
Theme 3: Driving resource efficiency & the circular economy
Theme 4: New technologies adoption & sector transformation towards a circular economy
ORYX ROOM 
DOLPHIN ROOM 
TURTLE ROOM 
CAMEL ROOM 
13:00 – 13:20
Evaluation of Heavy Metals Leachability Potential of Landfill-Mined-Fine-Fractions under Various Environmental Conditions
Arghya Ghosh
Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (India)
Co-author: Dr. Suresh A. Kartha
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (India)
From Barriers to Solutions: Recommendations for Scaling Up Methane Finance.
Kait Siegel
Waste Sector Manager, MPP, Clean Air Task Force (USA)
Collection Efficiency Analysis – a case study in Prague. 46% cost savings in waste management with use of data analytics.
Tomas Vincze
Waste Collection Management Division Director, Sensoneo (Slovakia)
Polymer recycling solutions for textile waste containing elastane
Emanuel Boschmeier
Scientific Researcher, TU Wien (Austria)
13:20 – 13:40
Assessing the Efficiency of a Full-scale Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) Reactor in Treating Municipal Wastewater: The Developing Country Context.
Philomina Arthur
District Manager, Zoomlion Ghana Limited (Ghana)
CO2 reduction at Mabwepande composting plant in Tanzania
Dr. Florian Kölsch
General Manager, Dr. Kölsch Geo- und Umwelttechnik GmbH (Germany)
Plastic Waste – a Global Threat to the Environment and Health.
Tony Clark
CEO, Avfall Sverige (Sweden)
Techno-Economic Assessment for PV Waste Recycling in the Sultanate of Oman.
Dr. Sausan Al-Riyami
Director, Oman Hydrogen Center-German university of Technology (Oman)
13:40 – 14:00
Remediation and Disposal of Micro-Plastics
Sumaiya Al-Siyabi
Technology Research Analyst, be’ah (Oman)
AD of Prosopis Juliflora: a Double Solution to Reduce Carbon Footprint and Ecological Threats.
Sophia Ghanimeh
Research Associate Professor, Qatar University (Qatar)
Lessons from the USAID Recycling in Jordan Activity: Incentivizing new private service delivery models for efficient recycling markets.
Mohamad Hawari
Recycling Service Specialist, USAID Recycling in Jordan Activity, Chemonics International (Jordan)
RECAPP 2023
Jerome Viricel
General Manager of RECAPP, Veolia Middle East (UAE)
14:00 – 14:20
Environmental monitoring at Ämmässuo Waste Treatment Center (a former landfill)
Linda Röman
Project Manager, Helsinki Region Environmental Services (HSY) (Finland)
Building Climate Resilience in the Solid Waste Management Sector.
Dr. Nimmi Damodaran
Independent Consultant, Abt Associates (USA)
Demonstration of feasibility of an AI based ‘Kit’ for the automation of bin inspection and monitoring activities.
Mohsin Al-Barwani
MSWS GM Planning and Service Optimization, be’ah (Oman)
Co-author: Ahmed Al-Aamri
GM – Digital Transformation & Cyber Security, be’ah (Oman)
Social Media and Its Role in Waste Management Business: Parameters and Strategies for Successful Campaigns by Waste Management Companies
Lorenzo Bertero
Digital Marketing Specialist, Impactos Ambientales (Germany)
14:20- 14:40
Disposable diapers in rural South Africa: An ecological disaster in the making
Prof. Catherina Schenck
DSI/NRF/DSI Chair in W&S, University of the Western Cape (South Africa)
Understanding the relationship between climate change and plastic pollution: An overlooked environmental issue.
Umesh Madhavan
Research Director, The Circulate Initiative (Singapore)
Engineering X Safer End of Engineered Life Champions – What engineering solutions can help incorporate the informal waste sector into a circular economy?
Shafiul Azam Ahmed
Partner, Commitment Consultants (Bangladesh)
Dr. Letícia Sarmento dos Muchangos
Assistant Professor, Institute for Future Initiatives, University of Tokyo (Japan & Mozambique)
Delila Khaled
Founder and Principle, impaXus (Egypt)
Introducing DRS for PET bottles in Italy: opportunities and challenges
Mario Grosso
Associate Professor, Politecnico di Milano (Italy)
14:40 – 15:20
ISWA Working Group on Landfills & Closing Dumpsites Task Force
(This is a 60 mins Session – Coffee break will exceptionally start at 15:40 in this room)
Panel Discussion: Transitioning from Dumpsite Operations into Integrated Sustainable Waste Management
Improper waste management has affected the health of people and the quality of our environment, whether it is directly or indirectly. In this session, we will discuss how closing or remediating dumpsites, and proper operating of waste infrastructure can conserve our ecosystems and enhance livability. In most parts of our world, it is the result of the choices we all make every day on doing something right or do nothing with our existing waste management and operation system. Since the projected volume of waste generation is on the rise globally and in line with projected population growth and urbanisation, any waste management system selected and utilised for a given region to operate successfully needs to be carefully evaluated and implemented for its efficiency and sustainability.
This session is presented by ISWA’s Task Force on Closing Dumpsites Global Initiative to highlight what we can do among the WGL members worldwide in assisting their dumpsites wanting to transition to a better and safer sanitary landfill operations, including adding features such as anaerobic digestor, composting operations, MBT, MRF, or gas collection system. There is a safe way to harness its green energy or renewal natural gas production and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint at the same time in enhancing livability of the surrounding communities. To reduce the volume of waste going to the landfill, we need to divert as much organic waste and recyclable materials as possible away from the landfills.
Other hot topics such as landfill mining operations and reusing plastic waste from the waste stream will be discussed to show that landfills play a vital role as a final sink for materials that cannot be recycled or incinerated and also on how to transition from dumpsites to sanitary landfills operations. If executed properly and sorted materials have its final destination, landfill mining has a potential for recovering valuable resources and minimize the environmental risks from operating or remediating a dumpsite. A final fruit of thoughts is can we operate a landfill that is sustainable to achieve “zero waste” concept in a modern day’s material resources and waste management facility?
Focus Session – Open burning of waste
Creating the enabling conditions for eliminating open burning of waste through regional roadmaps and city pilots (UN Habitat, RA Eng, Practical action, ISWA, IGES).
ISWA Working Group on Recycling and Waste Minimisation
Robust recycling in emerging economies — tools for planning and assessment
The WGRWM is formulating a project for support to emerging economies and cities and regions. In the session we share the EU “Early Warning” methodology and approach, show how it has worked for EU member states, and invite input on how to use it in the project.
TBA
15:20 – 15:50
COFFEE BREAK AT THE EXPO
15:50 – 16:50
Main Congress Hall
Focus Session
Coalition of Action against Marine Litter – Uniting Stakeholders for a sustainable future
Marine litter poses a significant threat to our oceans, ecosystems, and the overall health of our planet. Recognizing the urgency of this issue, a diverse group of stakeholders and players are coming together to form a powerful Coalition of Action against Marine Litter. This coalition aims to leverage the collective knowledge, expertise, and resources of its members to drive tangible and sustainable solutions to address this global challenge.
The session “Coalition of Action against Marine Litter: Uniting Stakeholders for a Sustainable Future” will invite participants to engage in a dynamic dialogue that explores the transformative potential of collaboration across sectors. The session will provide a platform for stakeholders from the private sector, governments, civil society organizations, scientific institutions, and international bodies to share their experiences, insights, and innovative approaches.
The objectives of this session are threefold: First, to foster an understanding of the multi-dimensional nature of marine litter and its impact on marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health. Second, to showcase successful case studies and initiatives implemented by various stakeholders, highlighting best practices and lessons learned. Lastly, to facilitate the formation of partnerships and the exchange of knowledge, resources, and expertise among the participants.
16:50 – 17:30
Main Congress Hall
Panel Discussion #2
Perspectives on the current regime development of international environmental discourse (consider including topics of informal sector- just transition and inclusion)
The triple planetary crisis declared by UNEP is creating awareness and even concern among citizens of the world. Chemicals and waste pollution as well as climate change are directly related to waste management and the circular economy. Action from institutions and companies is being demanded by civil society and this is only expected to grow. In this panel discussion, our distinguished panelists will discuss how the international environmental discourse around waste is evolving. A key aspect in the discussion will be the international treaty for plastics being negotiated. Also, on how industry, society, and government institutions can react and act to attend to the demands and calls for action concerning the triple planetary crisis from the waste and resource management angle.
- Moderator: Philip Heylen, International Relations & Corporate Affairs Officer, Ackermans & van Haaren (Belgium)
17:30 – 17:40
Main Congress Hall
RAFFLE DRAW #1
17:40 – 18:00
Main Congress Hall
MOU SIGNING
18:00
WELCOME RECEPTION
OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTER GARDEN