The Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) has re-developed its IWMSA Recognised Waste Management Training Programme and will be launching the new curriculum in September this year.

Professor Suzan Oelofse, president of IWMSA, says the training programme has been redeveloped to be more current, more specific to South Africa’s waste landscape, and up-to-date with regards to the National Environmental Management Waste Act (NEMWA).

World-class skills development

“We are proud of the new programme and excited to be able to offer waste management training of this quality to the industry. This world-class training will benefit anyone involved with waste, by providing them with a more integrated understanding of all aspects of waste management,” explains Oelofse.

The training is conducted by highly experienced facilitators, providing attendees with a wealth of up-to-date information.  The new programme also encourages critical thinking and healthy debate.

Course content

The programme is made up of several modules, which together amount to a coherent, comprehensive Waste Management Training Programme. At the same time, each module is also offered individually for those who wish to learn only about specific aspects of waste management.

These modules are: Introduction to Integrated Waste Management; Legal Requirements; Waste Management Planning; The Responsible Handling of Waste throughout the Material Cycle; Different Approaches towards the Rendering of Waste Management Services; and Beneficiation Opportunities.

Course compilers

The new material was developed by Oelofse, Susanne Karcher, Kobus de Meyer, Sue Benningfield, Belinda Berry and Nomakhwezi Nota, and reviewed by Linda Godfrey, principal researcher at the CSIR. It is the only training of its kind in South Africa and, according to Oelofse, expected to make a positive impact on the country’s waste management landscape.

“The more people in the waste industry are educated, trained and informed, the more likely they are to engage in environmentally-acceptable, cost effective and appropriate waste management practices,” says Oelofse. “If the country’s waste management practises are consistent, there will be a huge impact, not only on the environment, but also on the people of South Africa who are being adversely affected by poor waste management.”

Sign up dates

The new training programme will be available on 28 to 30 September this year in Gauteng and 05 to 07 October 2015 in KwaZulu-Natal. Interested parties with at least a matric certificate, engaged in any aspect of waste management in South Africa are encouraged to register.

The Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) is a multi-disciplinary non-profit association that is committed to supporting professional waste management practices.

For more information on the IWMSA, visit www.iwmsa.co.za or contact 011-675-3462. The IWMSA is also on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/iwmsa) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/IWMSA).