ICWMT9

The 9th International Conference on Solid Waste Management and Technology (ICWMT9) was successfully held in Beijing Jingyi Hotel from 29th to 31th on October, 2014. The theme of the conference is "Towards Closed Loop of Waste Management", the conference was hosted by Key Laboratory for Solid Waste Management and Environment Safety, Ministry of Education of China, Tsinghua University, the Center of Solid Waste and Chemical Management Technology, Ministry of Environmental Protection of China, United Nations Environment Programme, Stockholm Convention Regional Centre for Capacity-building and the Transfer of Technology in Asia and the Pacific. It was organized by the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (BCRC Beijing), Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific, The Society of Solid Waste of Chinese Society for Environmental Science, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Research Institute of Solid Waste Management, Solid Waste Treatment and Disposal Committee of Environmental Protection, Industry Association in China, and the International Waste Working Group. ICWMT9 gathered more than 500 participants from governments, universities, research institutions and enterprises from 32 countries and regions. During the conference, 38 reports were made in the plenary lecture, and 45 reports were addressed in Branch Sessions and Workshops. There are 7 workshops: "Workshop of E-waste policy", "National-Level Policy Workshop of China Fluorescent Lamps Collection and Treatment Demonstration Project", "Hazardous Waste Management Workshop", "Workshop on opportunities and challenges for contaminated sites management and remediation and Hazardous Waste Management Workshop", "Workshop on solid waste disposal technology and industry development", "Regional Workshop on Promotion of Technical Assistance and Technology Transfer in Asia and the Pacific", and "Basel Forum in Asia-Pacific Region on Promotion of Basel Convention Implementation" in which 43 reports were given. ICWMT9 received 138 papers focusing on the management and treatment technologies of solid waste, such as hazardous waste, e-waste, bio-mass, industrial waste, contaminated sites et al. Among which, 18 papers were named as excellent papers by the committee.
    Compared with the previous conference, the ICWMT9 had its characteristics. Firstly, the international organizations and governments from Pacific region were invited as the supporters of the conference, which included the Secretariat of Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management, the Mongolian Ministry of Environment and Green Development, and the Science, Technology and the Ministry of Environment in Nepal. Secondly, the influence of ICWMT9 is enlarged because the International Waste Working Group is one of the conference organizer. Thirdly, the number of participants in the conference increased. All of these fully demonstrated the development direction of the international conference which extends the international influence and facilitates the combination of research and industrial cooperation.
     It is a highly honor that Ms. Kerstin Stendahl, the executive secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm Convention Secretariat, attended the conference and gave a remark in the opening ceremony. It displayed the recognition and support for ICWMT from international communities, especially the secretariat of convention. Besides, in this September, Chinese government introduced ICWMT in the 9th Basel Convention Open-ended Working Group Meeting, which drew a wide attention and got good response from participants.
     In addition, as the back-to-back meeting of the conference, the First Steering Meeting of the Regional Center was successfully held at the afternoon in 28th October. The meeting considered the ICWMT as one of the work plan for BCRC and will promote it as medium-term and long-term plans.