Challenges in Waste Management:
The World Bank estimates that cities currently generate about 1.3 billion tonnes of solid waste per year, growing to 2.2 billion tonnes by 2025. Waste management poses challenges to many countries. It has a huge impact on the environment, causing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, as well as significant material losses. The nature of waste is changing, partly due to the dramatic rise of hi-tech products. There is an increasingly complex mix of waste materials, including plastics, precious metals and hazardous substances that are difficult to deal with safely. The waste issue is not just a challenge for the government. Waste not recovered as a resource is a loss and an opportunity cost to the economy.
Join us in a panel discussion exploring Singapore’s and Europe’s experience and ideas in waste management. It will be moderated by Director of Singapore Environment Institute (SEI) Mr Ong Eng Kian. Learn the best practices of industry and gain insights into emerging trends impacting the waste sector. This session is also an opportunity to exchange ideas on the subject with esteemed association leaders in the waste management field.
Singapore Environment Institute (SEI)
In Collaboration With:
- International Solid Waste Association (ISWA)
- Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS)
ABOUT THE PANELLISTS:
Mr David Newman
International Solid Waste Association (ISWA)
Mr David Robert Newman has been the President of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) since September 2012. ISWA promotes sustainable waste management worldwide. It is present in 40 countries with 80 members in total. ISWA collaborates with governments and international organisations to develop waste management practices that improve the environment. It also provides training and information. Since 2011, Mr Newman has been the General Secretary of Assobioplastiche (Italian Association of Bioplastics), promoting the use of sustainable, compostable packaging in Italy. Members in Assobioplastiche are producers of compostable resins, films and packaging; universities; public authorities; as well as associations and companies within the waste stream. Mr Newman also serves as the Managing Director of CIC, developing organic waste recovery in Italy through political and commercial promotion, such as managing the certification of compost products and compostable packaging (bioplastics). His extensive past experience include being the Managing Director of ATIA-ISWA ITALIA and Managing Director of Greenpeace Italy, among others.
Ms Melissa Tan
Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS)
Ms Melissa Tan is the General Manager of Wah & Hua with 15 years of experience in this family-owned business. Prior to that, she had worked in Perth as a Tax Consultant. She holds a Degree in Accounting and Finance from Curtin University of Technology, and a Masters in Marketing and Management from the University of Leicester. In WMRAS, Ms Tan assumed the position of First Vice Chairman in 2012, before being elected as Chairman in 2014. She is also the Chair of the sub-committee for General Waste Collectors. In the joint WMRAS-NEA tradeshow WasteMET Asia 2012, she served as the Co-Chair with NEA in the exhibition sub-committee. Ms Tan played a key role in helping WMRAS secure $1.11 million funding from the LEAD Programme. In 2013, she became the Co-Chair of the sub-committees work group for Standards and Productivity and NEA. She was one of 12 appointed WorkPro Ambassadors, a scheme by the Ministry of Manpower and Singapore WorkForce Development Agency to augment local manpower, foster progressive workplaces and strengthen the Singapore Core in our workforce. Ms Tan believes in contributing to society and giving back to the community as an active grassroots leader and woman advocate. Through involvements with WMRAS and other societal groups, she has developed the passion, knowledge and capability to contribute to the development of the waste management industry.
Launched in February 2004, the Professional Sharing Series (PSS) aims to promote a dynamic exchange of environmental knowledge amongst NEA and the public sector, as well as industries, academics and businesses. PSS is a knowledge-sharing platform where SEI periodically brings in professionals in their respective fields to share their expertise and perspectives on environmental issues. Topics that have been covered range from emerging environmental technologies and management approaches, to good environmental practices and environmental awareness collaboration and public-private partnerships in the region.
About TAP Centre:
The Training, Advisory & Promotion (TAP) Centre was established under a
tripartite agreement among the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA),
Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS), and National Environment Agency (NEA) on 28 June 2010. ISWA’s first-of-its kind training centre outside Europe, where the association is based, the TAP Centre organises regional and international waste management training workshops, forums and tradeshows to promulgate an efficient waste management environment in Asia. The TAP Centre will be a key hub for sustainable waste management in Asia, where it will serve as a depository of knowledge and data, and catalyst for regional collaboration and public-private partnerships in the region.
Theatrette, Level 4,
Environment Building, 40 Scotts Road,
This session is complimentary.
Seats are offered on a first-come-first-served basis, therefore all interested
participants are advised to register online to reserve a seat.
Please contact SEI at 1800-2255 632 or firstname.lastname@example.org.