Griffith Uni becomes UN advisor on waste management

Griffith University’s appointment as the Australia and New Zealand sub-regional secretariat of a UN global partnership on waste management will mean Queensland local authorities receive improved advice.

Launched during the UN Commission of Sustainable Development in New York in May, the International Partnership for Expanding Waste Management Services to Local Authorities (IPLA) aims to develop public-private partnerships to tackle community waste problems.

Project leader Dr Sunil Herat from the Griffith School of Engineering said the appointment will bring together key stakeholders including local authorities and the private sector.

“This is great international recognition of Griffith’s work in the waste management area,” he said.

“Managing waste has emerged as one of the biggest challenges facing cities and urban areas. The daunting nature of such challenges has prompted an extensive collaboration among stakeholders.

“We are now able to facilitate knowledge sharing in the waste management area and provide expert advice to local authorities and any other approved members of the UN network, regarding their concerns,” Dr Herat said.

“For example, if a local authority has any issues with managing a particular waste stream, they will be able to receive support from the IPLA through its extensive network.

“As well, if they have already adopted best practice in waste management, they can promote it through IPLA to the wider global market.

“The IPLA has an objective to facilitate various partnership options, in terms of technologies, and experience sharing and networking, as well as access to various financial mechanisms for sustainable waste management.

“Griffith will play a key role in bringing Australia and New Zealand’s successful models of technology and expertise to local authorities around the world,” Dr Herat said.

As a UN advisor to Asian governments on electronic waste, Dr Herat said he believes Griffith was selected for the UN role as a result of its strong waste management credentials and high level of expertise in developing policy and strategy.

For further information on the Griffith University program, click on this link.