Inadequate waste disposal and recycling infrastructure is becoming a major concern for governments in Africa as the continent’s urban middle class population expands and more rural people migrate to the cities.

New infrastructure projects are needed all over Africa to accommodate growing urban and metropolitan populations.

Recycling specialists Ecomondo Italy will introduce their Waste and Recycling workshops for the first time at Waste and Recycling Africa part of this year’s SA Industry and Technology Fair (Indutec) to inform African delegates of current European practices in waste management and recycling.

Biowaste management in large cities

The first workshop is titled ‘Bio-waste management in large cities: A survey on current approaches and Best Practices’,  organised by the Italian Composting and Biogas Consortium and takes place on 20 May 2015.

“The workshop is intended to give municipal solid waste (MSW) management experts and decision-makers an overview of current best-practices and approaches in bio-waste separate collection and recycling,” explains Giacomo Rotunno, the Managing Director of Senaf Promo Export, an Italian export advisory body which is organising the event.

“It will focus on the most efficient operational solutions, equipment and technologies required to enhance waste collection and convert bio-waste into compost and biogas. Specific attention will be given to experiences in large cities, showing how food-waste can be correctly diverted from disposal.”

Re-using waste materials

Day two of the workshop will focus on recycling; management and use of materials such as plastics, tyres, metal, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), and packaging, the economic and environmental benefits of recycling, and updates on success stories.

Other topics include:

• Recycling in Italy and Europe: economic management and environmental benefits
• The European context: strategies and objectives towards a circular economy
• The Italian situation: waste collection and recycling industry
• A successful case history: the experience of Revet in plastic recycling

Energy and matter recovery

Energy and matter recovery through the thermal treatment of waste is the focus of the final workshop. Luciano Piacenti, a vice president of FISE Assoambiente, will discuss the European and Italian experience on waste to energy recycling.

Click here to download the workshop programme.