The International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) congress for me was a celebration of the expansiveness of our sector.
Anyone who thinks the “waste industry” is one homogenous blob simply doesn’t know it.
There are few “easy answers” in waste management, no “universal blueprints” and we are certainly at the beginning of what will be a long, windy and uphill path towards zero waste and circular economies (some might say we’re barely out of the starting blocks).
There are so many important and healthy discussions to be had:
↕ Top down or bottom up?
🛠 This technology or that technology?
🎯 Upstream or downstream?
📌 Centralised or decentralised?
🚮 Source segregation or sorting facility?
💸 What’s needed more, CAPEX or OPEX? (🐥+🥚 anyone?)
All of these decisions are affected by a multitude of factors:
🏘 Mega city or hilltop village?
🌴 Hot or cold climate?
🌦 Dry or wet climate?
💰 High or low income?
⚖ Strong governance or frustrating levels of corruption?
🧓 Mature or nascent market?
On the differences go… 🎡
Dogmatic approaches or a laser focus on “a single, universal answer” therefore seem ill suited to our technicolour, ambiguous and fast-changing world. 💃
Discussion – and most importantly, listening to one another – is key.
There’s a reason we have one mouth and two ears, right? 👂👄👂
(sorry there is only the left ear emoji so please use your imagination)
We all have much to learn, whether we’re feted engineers 👷♀️ or senior directors 👨💼 or influential activists 🕺
That’s the beauty of our sector 💅
It is diverse and multi-faceted, creative and logical, global and local, systemic and deeply personal.
Progress doesn’t happen from standing outside shouting in. It happens when we are prepared to have the humility to respect one another’s knowledge and experience, appreciate that plurality of thought is a blessing, and learn to feel comfortable at the edges.
For me, this was the gift of ISWA 2024.
The chance to hear the different angles and perspectives, the new research areas, new policies and improved technologies… The maturity to challenge and to be challenged, to enjoy the discussion, and to come away friends. That’s our sector, and I love it. 😍🤗
Cheers to you all 🍻
Join us next year at ISWA 2025 in Buenos Aires!