University of Northampton student visits Brazil thanks to award from Chartered Institution of Wastes Management

Student Robert Reinhardt, who is working towards a Master of Science in Wastes Management, has just returned from the International Solid Waste Association World Congress in Brazil – a trip funded by a £1,000 award from the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management.

Rob, who was awarded the James Sumner Award by the UK Wastes Management professional body, visited São Paulo for the ISWA 2014 World Congress​. Taking place over four days, the Congress featured a variety of sessions covering topics including sustainable wastes management, planning, energy from waste and climate change.

Robert commented: “As the winner of this year’s James Sumner Award 2014, I attended the ISWA World Congress 2014 as a delegate of CIWM. My choice of this congress was not accidental – it was held at the World Trade Center São Paulo under the key message “(Re) Discovering a New World: Sustainable Solutions for a healthy future” and brought together the international waste community to exchange ideas, experiences, perspectives, trends and case studies related to sustainable waste management in order to develop common visions for the future of a sustainable and healthy world.”

The congress provided a fantastic networking opportunity for Rob, who explained: “On the first day I attended the special session ‘New Visions and Innovations on Old Themes’, which was organised by ISWA’s Young Professional Group (YPG). The session lasted over four hours and was extremely helpful to myself as never before I have been able to discuss issues around sustainable waste management with people my age that are passionate about the same topic.

“As a result of this session I decided to become a member of the YPG and attended the board meeting on the second day of the Congress where the future direction of the YPG was discussed. I strongly believe in the importance and success of this group as young professionals not only possess agile sensitivities and adaptabilities to change, but also lead change.”

Professor Margaret Bates​ of the Centre for Sustainable Wastes Management commented: “We are all really pleased that Rob has received the James Sumner Award, clearly his enthusiasm for wastes management and determination to make a difference through better utilisation of resources came across in his application. I am sure that he will make the best of the opportunity to attend one of the most important wastes and resource management conferences in the world and hope that he won’t forget the University of Northampton when he is rich and famous!”

A full report from Rob’s trip is available online.

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​Pictured: (left to right) ISWA President David Newman, CIWM delegate Robert Reinhardt ​and Chairman of the ISWA World Congress 2014 Carlos Silva Filho.