ISWA signs Memorandum of Understanding on Training Programmes in Singapore

To strengthen local capabilities in waste management, ISWA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Waste Management and Recycling Association (WMRAS), both based in Singapore, to jointly develop waste management training programmes. Representatives at the MOU Signing Ceremony included Director of SEI Mr Ong Eng Kian, CEO of NEA Mr Ronnie Tay, Chair of WMRAS Ms Melissa Tan, Second Minister of MEWR Ms Grace Fu, President of ISWA Mr David Newman, and Managing Director of ISWA Mr Hermann Koller. The signing ceremony took place on 3 June 2014 during the CleanEnviro Summit Singapore (CESS 2014). This MOU augments the work of the Training, Advisory and Promotion (TAP) Centre, established by ISWA to promote sustainable waste management in the region. The tripartite partnership synergises the international expertise of ISWA with the public-private collaboration experience of NEA and leading waste management players. It goes towards the development of effective waste management solutions, translated into environmental training programmes. Inaugural TAP Centre's Seminar on Waste to Energy in Singapore Shortly after inking the MOU, the three partners marked the first milestone in training collaboration with the ISWA-NEA-WMRAS Seminar on Waste to Energy (WtE) 2014 held from 5 to 7 June 2014. This inaugural 3 day seminar and study tour on WtE welcomed 27 participants from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and Oman. All were keen to learn more about the capabilities of deploying WtE solutions. In addition to two half day site visits, the seminar featured a team of WtE experts from Europe and Singapore: speakers from WMRAS and ISWA experts Bettina Kamuk, Jorgen Haukohl and Edmund Fleck gave lectures covering both basics elements and newest development in WtE. The sessions included the sharing of waste management policies and legislation in Europe and Singapore; examining the characteristics of high performance energy efficient plants through case studies; discussing the best practices for facility operations and maintenance. The seminar was well-received. Participants felt that they had gained a better appreciation of environmental policies supportive of WtE development, as well as an exposure to viable business models in operating WtE facilities. "This three-day seminar provided a compact yet vigorous overview of key issues that matter to facility managers like me who have to oversee a technical team. I enjoyed the programme," said Mr Jerome Baco, an industry waste management practitioner and WMRAS member.