ISWA-Germany YPG at IFAT 2024, Munich

Young scientists and professionals attending IFAT Munich from May 13th to 17th are invited to join us for an international networking workshop. The event, hosted by the Hamburg Institute for Innovation, Climate Protection, and Circular Economy (Hiicce) in collaboration with ISWA, RETech, DGAW, and IWWG, serves as the science corner of the exhibition.

When? Thursday 16.05.2024, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Where? Conference room B31, IFAT Munich

For further information and free IFAT tickets please contact:
HIICCE-Hamburg.
ISWA-Germany.

ISWA-Germany at IFAT 2024, Munich

The German RETech Partnership and DGAW proudly represent Germany's national membership at ISWA at IFAT Munich from May 13th to 17th. We extend a warm welcome to all interested members to join us for a one-hour networking event on Tuesday, 14.05 at 4:00 p.m., hosted at the ISWA booth. Dr. Michael Nelles, from ISWA-Germany, and ISWA's managing Director Marc Tijhuis, will give brief welcome remarks. This event aims to foster stronger bonds between German members and ISWA, providing an ideal platform for delightful conversations on sustainable waste management and fruitful networking opportunities.

For further information please contact: E-Mail

Postponement of ISWA Study Tour!

Unfortunately, we have to announce that ISWA study tour on "Planning, financing, and operation of sustainable decentralized recycling and waste management systems" had to be postponed due to unforeseen internal problems.

ISWA Germany's Final Meeting in 2023

16 January 2023

Join us on December 5, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon for a webinar showcasing the activities of German organizations within ISWA. The focus of this event will be the insights gathered from the ISWA World Congress, held in Muscat, Oman, from October 30 to November 1, 2023.

We are pleased to announce the participation of Dr. Hanenkamp in this meeting. Elected to the ISWA Board during the 2023 ISWA elections, Dr. Hanenkamp will enlighten us with a presentation on the diverse international activities of Martin GmbH.

In addition to updates from the ISWA working groups, Frau Schlegel will talk about possible networking opportunities within the next IFAT event in München and Dr. Volker Ludwig will provide a concise overview of the second networking meeting of the Ghana Forum.

You can find the complete program here. Please register via this link.

ISWA-Germany Study Tour

The national membership of Germany at ISWA is proud to present the ISWA-Germany Study Tour 2024, an unparalleled opportunity for young waste management professionals to gain in-depth knowledge on designing, financing, and operating sustainable decentralized recycling and waste management systems. This exclusive event is tailored for professionals with a maximum of five years of work experience.


The ISWA-Germany Study Tour 2024 is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of successful waste management practices spanning 40 years of German expertise. The tour will feature:

Expert Lectures: Engage with leading industry experts through informative lectures, delving into the latest advancements and best practices in waste management.
Site Visits: Explore three diverse waste management sites, gaining valuable insights into real-world applications of sustainable waste management techniques.
Interactive Discussions: Participate in thought-provoking discussions, facilitating knowledge exchange and networking opportunities among participants.

Key Objectives:
Participants will have the unique opportunity to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical implementation, enabling them to establish and manage small to medium-sized recycling and waste treatment centers efficiently. By the end of the tour, attendees will be equipped with the skills and expertise necessary to contribute significantly to the field of waste management.

Event Details:
Dates: May 21st - 24th, 2024
Location: Emmendingen/ Freiburg, Germany

Event Overview:

How to Participate:
The study tour is limited to 25 young waste management professionals. More details regarding fees and registration will be announced soon on the ISWA website.

To download the study tour flyer click here
For inquiries and further information, please contact: E-Mail

ISWA World Congress 2033: Global Action Towards a Net-zero Future

16 May 2023

ISWA World Congress 2033 is scheduled to take place in the picturesque city of Muscat, Oman. This prestigious event will bring together waste management professionals from around the world, offering them a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge, insights, and best practices within the industry.

We would like to inform you that the early bird registration for the congress is now open! In addition, companies and organizations have the opportunity to participate as exhibitors, showcasing their innovative solutions and services to a global audience.

As ISWA Germany, we are pleased to announce that our esteemed representative, Dr. Michael Nelles, will be representing us at the ISWA General Assembly. This crucial assembly provides a platform for members to engage in discussions on important matters and make key decisions that shape the future of waste management.

Furthermore, we are excited to inform you that during the ISWA World Congress, we will be organizing a side event specifically for ISWA Germany. This event will facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing, and valuable networking opportunities for our members.

For further information and any inquiries regarding our side event or other details related to the ISWA World Congress, please feel free to contact us directly.

To stay updated on the latest news and developments about the ISWA World Congress, we encourage you to visit the official congress website.

ISWA-Germany's Successful Participation at IEexpo China, April 2023

16 May 2023

IEexpo China, the world's second-largest trade fair for environmental technology, focused on water and waste management, took place in April 2023, in Shanghai. With its 18 halls, the exhibition center was almost entirely booked out. IEexpo is one of the international environmental trade fairs organized by Messe München GmbH, and after a three-year pause due to the Corona pandemic, Germany returned with a strong presence at the event.

Germany's participation was twofold. First, prominent exhibitors from organizations such as DGAW and RETech showcased their innovative solutions in individual booths or as co-exhibitors in the German joint booth dedicated to water and waste management. Doppstadt Umwelttechnik, Eggersmann, and Steinert were among the notable companies that presented their cutting-edge technologies. Secondly, Germany's involvement in IEexpo extended to the scientific-technical supporting program. Germany stood out as the second-strongest presence after China in this aspect. ISWA Germany, represented by Prof. Dr. Mont. Michael Nelles, played an important contribution in this respect. ISWA International had its own booth, where ISWA Germany actively contributed.

One of the highlights of the event was the two-day symposium organized in collaboration with DWA and Tongji University, titled "Technical Symposium of Sino-German International Cooperation on Environment Science and Engineering." ISWA Germany hold the successful "Waste Session" on April 20, 2023, under the theme "Sustainable Circular Economy as a key element for a climate-neutral future." This session shed light on the importance of a circular economy in achieving climate neutrality.

ISWA Germany also delivered a presentation at the GIZ workshop on "Plastic Waste Recycling - Status and Development in Europe" and organized an international waste seminar at Tongji University on April 21, 2023. The seminar's focus was " Recovery of organic waste and residues in Europe & Asia - the role in waste management, energy system, bioeconomy, and climate protection."

From the perspective of the RETech-DGAW working group, ISWA Germany, IEexpo China marked a highly successful new beginning after the three-year pandemic pause. It served as a strong foundation to make "Recycling and Waste Management Made in Germany" well-established in China.

#ISWAGermany #IEexpoChina #EnvironmentalTechnology #WasteManagement #Recycling #CircularEconomy

YPG Veranstaltung im Rahmen des DGAW-Wissenschaftskongresses

14 February 2023

Die Young Professionals der Stadtreinigung haben am 08.03.2023 eine Besichtigung der Georgswerder Energy Mountains mit anschließendem Get-together organisiert. Das Programm richtet sich gezielt an die Teilnehmer:innen des DGAW Wissenschaftskongresses sowie die Young Professionals der ISWA:

Programmpunkt I
13:30 Uhr Treffen auf dem Energieberg - Fiskalische Str. 2, 21109 Hamburg (Anfahrt über S-Bahn Veddel + Bus 154, Richtung S Harburg-Rathaus)
13:30 – 14:00 Uhr Networking bei Kaffee und Kuchen
14:00 – 15:00 Uhr Film und Führung (deutsch)
15:30 - 16:30 Uhr Film und Führung (englisch)
17:00 Uhr Ende des ersten Veranstaltungsteils

Programmpunkt II
ab 19:00 Uhr Treffen im Alten Mädchen - Lagerstraße 28b, 20357 Hamburg

Anmelden könnt Ihr Euch über den folgenden QR Code bis spätestens zum 24.02.2023:

Bei Fragen schreibt eine E-Mail an Stadtreinigung Hamburg.

ISWA-YPG-Germany:

16 January 2023

The Young Professional Group of Germany was successfully launched during IFAT, Munich 2022. After 6 months of establishment, it is now time to enhance group activities. In light of this, an online meeting is organized on Friday, January 27th at 14:00 to discuss the events and activities in 2023!

For registration please click here

ISWA-YPG: waste generation and characterization training course

16 January 2023

Calling all young professionals and aspiring students in the field of solid waste management! Join us for a 2-day online training course on Waste Generation & Characterization Studies, a voluntary initiative - organized by the ISWA Young Professionals' Group in collaboration with Waste Wise Cities by UN-Habitat , the Universität Rostock, and Circular Plastics Institute at KSBL. This course brings together international experts to share their knowledge and inspire the next generation of circular thinkers. Learn about the importance of waste generation and characterization, available methodologies such as the Waste Wise Cities Tool and standard waste audit framework, and how to conduct proper waste audits and design projects based on the results. The course will take place on February 10th and 11th, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm CET.

Register now and gain valuable knowledge to help you succeed in your career in solid waste management. To read more about the course, visit https://ypg.iswa.org/odm/

The vice chair of ISWA YPG for the year 2023 is elected from the German chapter!

2 January 2023

Every year, the ISWA YPGs vote to elect a new vice chair, as the former vice chair takes over the chair post. For the year 2023, Haniyeh Jalalipour (from the German chapter) is elected as vice chair. Laura Catalina Ospina (from the Colombian chapter) is the new chair of our YPG group.

ISWA World Congress from 21 to 23 September 2022 in Singapore.

5 October 2022

With more than 1,000 participants on site from 51 nations, ISWA had an excellent restart of the World Congress with Germany being very well represented, particularly with the members of the RETech-DGAW working group ISWA Germany. On 20.9. the ISWA General Assembly took place and Germany was able to make its first contributions as a fully-fledged National Member after a 5-year "time-out". The companies Naue and Wehrle were represented with well-visited booths in the technical exhibition and the stakeholders of ISWA Germany were intensively involved in the technical discussions at the meetings of the ISWA Working Groups and the Editorial Board of WM&R. The top-class presentations, from ALBA, Black Forrest Solution, HTP, Naue, N3, Sutco, Uni Rostock & Wehrle, which impressively demonstrated the broad competences of the circular economy in Germany, also deserve special mention. Of course, "networking" was not neglected and it is becoming apparent that the Asian region is an important market for RETech members and will be further expanded in the future. One of the central pillars here is the waste treatment plant of the company Sutco, which is being built in Singapore and is scheduled to go into operation in about 18 months.

Michael Nelles

Virtuelles Treffen der Arbeitsgruppe „ISWA-Germany“ am Dienstag, dem 18. Oktober 2022, von 10:00 Uhr bis 12:00 Uhr

16 September 2022

Am 18. Oktober 2022 werden innerhalb eines Webinars von 10 bis 12 Uhr die Aktivitäten von deutschen Organisationen innerhalb der International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) vorge-stellt. Höhepunkte in diesem Jahr, dem ersten in dem Deutschland wieder National Member innerhalb der ISWA seit 2017 war, sind der ISWA World Congress, welcher vom 21. bis 23. September in Singapur stattfand, sowie die ISWA-General Assembly. Neben den Berichten aus den ISWA Working Groups wird ein Fokus auf Projekte in Afrika – im speziellen Äthiopien und Ghana liegen. Beides sind interessante Länder für einen Markteinstieg in Afrika.

Save the date: Westafrika, Schwerpunkt Ghana - Vernetzungstreffen im September

03 August 2022

There will be 3 rounds until we find an eventual winner.
Round 1:
Open call for applications.

Round 2:
The top 10 entrants, judged against the ‘Key Selection Criteria will be invited to submit a video pitch explaining their concept, and a top 3 will be decided.

Round 3:
The best 3 from the top 10 entrants will have the chance to pitch their concept live during the ISWA World Congress in Singapore (in person if they are present) or via video conferencing if they cannot make it. The winner will then be decided.

All of the top 10 will have their video pitches widely shared across the YPG & ISWA network for maximum exposure.

We believe that this will create momentum for the world we want to see, one that ensures true resource efficiency, and which avoids unnecessary habitat destruction.

Wishing all entrants the best of luck!!!

Save the date: Westafrika, Schwerpunkt Ghana - Vernetzungstreffen im September

22 July 2022

Unser ISWA Deutschland Team aus DGAW und RETech hat festgestellt, dass viele Akteure der deutschen Abfallwirtschaft, also Unternehmen, gemeinnützige Entwicklungshilfegesellschaften und auch Universitäten mit Projekten in Westafrika unterwegs sind und das mit steigender Aktivität.

Um hier Synergiemöglichkeiten und auch ein Weiterführen der ein oder anderen Aktivität nach Projektende zu besprechen, planen wir eine Veranstaltung zu Westafrika und hier speziell aber nicht ausschließlich Ghana am 6. September 2022 vormittags. Das Format wird online oder hybrid stattfinden. Wir werden dazu dann rechtzeitig einladen. Interessenten können sich gerne schon vorab bei Dr. Volker Ludwig melden: E-Mail.

Internationale Networking Möglichkeiten und technische Diskussionen für deutsche Interessenvertreter*innen auf der IFAT 2022, München

19 Mai 2022

Die ISWA Germany Networking Session findet am Mittwoch, 1. Juni, von 15:00 bis 16:00 Uhr am ISWA Stand, A5 238, statt. Von der ISWA wird Dr. Arne Ragossnig die Veranstaltung eröffnen, und Prof. Dr. Michael Nelles wird die Veranstaltung für die ISWA Deutschland beginnen. Drei Roundtables sind für aktive Arbeitsgruppen organisiert und werden von Dr. Gert Morscheck (Universität Rostock), Dr. Henning Friege (N³ Nachhaltigkeitsberatung Dr. Friege & Partner) und Herrn Thomas Obermeier (Energy from Waste GmbH) moderiert.

zum Herunterladen des Veranstaltungsflyers hier klicken.

Exclusive Launch of ISWA Position Paper on Plastics Pollution

24 Feb 2022

In the context of the resumed Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), to be held from 28 February to 2 March, a Resolution to negotiate a new legally binding global agreement to address pollution from plastics is on the agenda. Therefore, ISWA supports the endeavor to prepare an international agreement on monitoring, controlling, mitigating, and eliminating marine litter and other forms of plastic pollution globally by launching a position paper that presents the key issues on Plastics Pollution.

Click here to download the report

The official kick-off event of ISWA-Germany Young Professional Group (YPG)

10 May 2022

The official kick-off event of ISWA-Germany Young Professional Group (YPG) will take place at IFAT 2022, Munich. This event takes place on Tuesday 31 May from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm in Conference room B32 as part of a brainstorming workshop organized by the science corner of Hamburg Institute for innovation climate protection and circular economy (Hiicce) together with ISWA, RETech, DGAW, and IWWG.

In form of a friendly get-together, the hosts will talk about offered prospects for YPG followed by small group formations to discuss topics related to networking and career opportunities while enjoying small snacks. The groups will be moderated by Roland Thompson (head of ISWA YPG), Andrea Winterstetter (previous head of ISWA YPG regional chapter group), and Haniyeh Jalalipour (representor of ISWA-Germany YPG).

For more information on the kick-off event, you can send an email to: E-Mail senden
You can download the flyer for the brainstorming event and science corner here.

Brainstorming workshop
IFAT 2022 Science Corner

Ingenieur*in Umwelttechnik – Schwerpunkte Waste Management/Recycling (m/w/d)

10 May 2022

Zur Verstärkung der Geschäftsstelle des Vereins German RETech Partnership e.V. suchen wir ab sofort eine*n praxiserfahrene*n Ingenieur*in Umwelttechnik mit den Schwerpunkten Waste Management/Recycling. Der Aufgabenbereich umfasst unter anderem die fachliche Planung, Begleitung und Beratung der entscheidenden Akteure bei der Umsetzung des laufenden BMUV Projekts: „Unterstützung und Stärkung deutscher GreenTech-Unternehmen zur Internationalisierung und Etablierung nachhaltiger Kreislauf- und Abfallwirtschaftskonzepte im Ausland“. Deutsch auf muttersprachlichem Niveau sowie Englischkenntnisse (mind. B2) sind dringend erforderlich. Gemessen an der Projektlaufzeit, ist die Stelle zunächst befristet bis zum 30.09.2024. Arbeitsort ist die Geschäftsstelle von RETech in Berlin.

Für weitere Informationen klicken Sie bitte hier.

Exclusive Launch of ISWA Position Paper on Plastics Pollution

24 Feb 2022

In the context of the resumed Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), to be held from 28 February to 2 March, a Resolution to negotiate a new legally binding global agreement to address pollution from plastics is on the agenda. Therefore, ISWA supports the endeavor to prepare an international agreement on monitoring, controlling, mitigating, and eliminating marine litter and other forms of plastic pollution globally by launching a position paper that presents the key issues on Plastics Pollution.

Click here to download the report

ISWA World Congress 2022 - Call for Abstracts

14 February 2022

The ISWA World Congress will be making its physical comeback from the 21st to 23rd September 2022 in Singapore hosted by the Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS)! Themed ‘don’t waste our future’, this edition aims to showcase waste management more holistically and dynamically. Therefore, the ISWA 2022 Scientific Committee invites abstracts for platform and poster presentations. Deadline for the abstracts is the 31. March 2022, 7 p.m. GMT.

Click here for details: https://www.judgify.me/iswa2022

"Future of Waste Management" Report Launched

24 Jan 2022

Released at the 2021 ISWA World Congress, this ten-year outlook highlights the key issues around the transition to a circular economy, the role waste management will play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and combatting climate change. The report is a call to action on how to move forward into the new decade; sustainable waste management will undoubtedly play a fundamental role in achieving a cleaner, healthier planet for everyone.

Click here to download the report

First Official meeting of ISWA-Germany

Around 50 members of REtech and DGAW met on October 28 virtually. This was the first official meeting of "ISWA-Germany" after the approval of national membership by the "ISWA General Assembly.“ As the main contact person in charge of coordinating ISWA-Germany activities, Prof. Dr. Nelles moderated this event. He opened the session by expressing the importance of involving Germany in the International movement towards a circular economy, followed by a short report on the status of national membership. To outline the background and previous engagements, the actively participating members in the various technical working groups of ISWA explained each group's purpose, activities, and events. The benefit of using obtained knowledge was represented by Dr. Jan Sprafke (RETech), given the example of the project "WasteGui – Guideline of urban and rural organic waste in Ethiopia." A vivid perspective for future international engagement was illustrated by Dr. Volker Ludwig (DGAW). At the end of the meeting, further cooperation was discussed and possible activities were suggested to create a roadmap for ISWA-Germany.