WasteCon 2026, the biennial conference hosted by the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA), is calling on industry professionals, researchers, academics and innovators to submit abstracts for consideration ahead of this year’s highly anticipated event.
Taking place from 20 to 22 October 2026 at Emperors Palace, the conference remains one of Southern Africa’s leading platforms for showcasing best practices, emerging technologies and sustainable solutions in waste and resource management.
The 2026 conference also marks a significant milestone for the IWMSA as the organisation celebrates its 50th anniversary – commemorating five decades of leadership, innovation and commitment to advancing sustainable waste management practices across the region.
Prospective participants are invited to submit an extended abstract of no more than two pages for review. The submission should provide sufficient technical and practical detail to enable reviewers to assess the proposed presentation while remaining concise and focused. An official extended abstract template must be used and uploaded alongside the submission form.
In an exciting development for this year’s event, WasteCon 2026 has partnered with the scientific journal Waste Management and Research to publish a special virtual issue featuring a selection of papers presented at the conference. The review and selection process for publication will be conducted by the journal’s editors following the conference proceedings. Authors interested in being considered for the virtual issue are encouraged to indicate this during the abstract submission process.
Abstract submissions close on 15 May 2026, with successful applicants expected to be notified of the review outcome by no later than 30 June 2026. At least one author of each accepted abstract will be required to register for the conference and present their work at the event.
As the waste and resource management sector continues to evolve in response to environmental, regulatory and economic pressures, WasteCon 2026 is expected to provide a valuable opportunity for knowledge-sharing, collaboration and industry advancement.
