Centre for Waste Management (CWM)
The Centre for Waste Management (CWM) was established in 2002 to provide a focus for existing waste/environmental research, consultancy and course provision at the University of Central Lancashire.
We are committed to the management of waste and developing resource efficiency to create a positive impact on the many associated environmental and commercial issues.
The Centre is research active and works on many topical areas of interest. Alongside this, we have also developed a series of courses to help you plan your professional development. We can offer advice and supporting materials that you may find very useful.
The Centre for Waste Management provides a focus for existing waste/environmental research and course provision at the University of Central Lancashire. Our staff are highly qualified and have expertise in their chosen field. They are experienced in working with the public and private sectors. We provide internationally recognised formal postgraduate qualifications in addition to business-focused short courses and bespoke training.
UCLan has provided postgraduate waste management courses since 1991 and has produced graduates from all over the world. Our graduates are now working both in the UK and overseas in senior positions in waste operation and regulation within the private, statutory and voluntary sectors. Others are developing successful careers in related fields of environmental management and industry.
Areas of Expertise:
- Waste Minimisation, Re-use and Recycling
- Energy Management
- Implementation of Legislation
- Construction Waste
- Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
- Life Cycle Assessments
- Life Cycle Thinking
- Carbon Management
- Legal Compliance
- Waste Logistics
- WEEE/Electronics
- Carbon and Carbon Management
- Carbon Auditing Scope 1/2/3
- Resource Management
- Circle Economy
The vision for the Centre for Waste Management is to become the recognised regional centre for research and development on waste, environmental management and pollution control. The objectives of the Centre for Waste Management are to:
- Further develop recognition as a regional, national and international authority on the management of waste and pollution
- To build on our international reputation and further collaborate with pan-European partner projects
- Provide education and training for graduates and practitioners in the waste management and environmental protection industries
- Provide a base for visiting academics and subject specialists from the industrial and public sectors from both the UK and abroad
- Facilitate co-operation between members and professional bodies, industry, regulators and the environmental research community
- Encourage our culture of research excellence and identity which attracts students and funding opportunities
- Undertake quality academic and market-focused research in key specialised areas
- Increase awareness of, and interest in, waste management through the delivery of short-courses, conferences, workshops and consultancy
Resource Efficiency Fund
Coordinated through the Resource Efficiency Fund, which will help at least 300 firms save money and resources by tackling the barriers that business owners face in reducing costs related to energy, water and waste. Our Centre for Waste Management team will contribute to businesses to save nearly £500,000, 1 million kWh of energy, and over 3,000 tonnes of carbon a year, while also helping us in our aim to be a zero-carbon energy economy by 2036.
To find out more information, please visit the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Resource Efficiency Fund page
Improving Glasgow’s Recycling Levels Through Training
The Centre for Waste Management is working with Glasgow City Council to provide customised recycling training to Glasgow City Council's public refuse collection teams. The primary aim of the training was to improve the recycling levels within the Glasgow City Council area. The courses are being delivered across the city’s three depots throughout 2024/25, starting at the Dawsholm Recycling Centre in the west and extending to two other Recycling Centres as the year progresses.
To find out more, please read the Glasgow City Council customised recycling training article
FP7Wastecosmart
WASTECOSMART - Optimisation of Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategies for the Maximisation of Resource Efficiency.
For the project, six research-driven triple helix clusters (science, industry and public sector) were formed in Paphos (CY), Central Hungary, Piedmont (IT), Amsterdam (NL), Stockholm (SE) and Liverpool City Region (UK). Collaboration with international partners from Brazil, Mexico and India to promote opportunities in waste management. The overall objective was to strengthen and increase the innovation capacity of regional research-driven clusters in resource efficiency. The objectives were achieved through cooperation, research and technological development within the waste sectors of the participating partners.
FP7Illuminate
The EU-funded project ILLUMINATE (Automated sorting and recycling of waste lamps) developed methods and processes for the collection and sorting of lighting waste. Project researchers created a multisensory system that automatically sorts bulbs into different classes and removes foreign objects. The device combined machine-based recognition techniques with sensors that recognise weight, colour and shape in order to identify different types of bulbs in the waste stream.
Erasmus plus EwasteR
The EwasteR Consortium is composed of 13 organisations from four different countries – Cyprus, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom. The overall goal of the EwasteR Project is to develop and establish a new high-quality interdisciplinary curriculum for the E-Waste Recycling and Re-Use management sector in Europe. The initiative increased the potential of employability and mobility among entrepreneurs undertaking the developed course.
KTP’s Equine surfaces
Equestrian Surface planned to produce a commercially viable product from a complicated waste stream, waste carpets. The partnership included an extensive analysis on the post-consumer carpets and identifying the nature of the available polymer matrix. This was followed by the development of a viable manufacturing injection moulding machine used to produce a modular foundation system for equine arenas.
Recycling Lives
As part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership between Recycling Lives and UCLan, funded by Innovate UK. A two-year study was undertaken into how ASR (auto-shredder residue) could be diverted from landfill. The ASR is a result of shredding, sorting and separating large volumes of waste and comprises of foams, rubber, fibres, textiles and other non-commercial recyclable materials.
A process has been created that transforms the residue into electrical energy, creating a full closed-loop recycling solution on-site and significantly reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.
Khodier, Ala, Williams, Karl S and Dallison, Neil (2017) Waste Management . ISSN 0956-053X Challenges around automotive shredder residue production and disposal.
Khodier, Ala, Williams, Karl S and Dallison, Neil (2018) In: 7th International Conference on Energy and Sustainability, 20-22 September 2017, Seville, Spain. Pilot-scale thermal treatment of automotive shredder residue: Pyrolysis char is a resource or waste.
Making Carbon Work (MaCaW)
MaCaW project is an academic/industry collaboration designed to assist Lancashire SMEs in overcoming the challenges and barriers in moving towards a low carbon economic model. We work with you and your business to implement low energy practices and processes to reduce your carbon burden as well as making cost savings. The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by the University of Central Lancashire.
To learn more about this project, please visit the Making Carbon Work (MaCaW) page
ECO-I North West
The ECO-I North West Project, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, was a £14m business Research and Development (R&D) programme that supported small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) across the North West (Cumbria, Lancashire, Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire and Warrington). ECO-I was delivered by a consortium of universities; Lancaster, Central Lancashire, Cumbria, Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores and Manchester Metropolitan.
To learn more about this project, please visit the ECO-I North West page
Waste management is an important and fast moving industry, vital to any nation's health, environment and economic wellbeing. This programme of courses was developed in close consultation with professional bodies within the waste industry, and seeks to meet their current and future needs.
Masters courses available – Full-time and part-time courses starting January and September in the following areas:
- Resource, Energy and Environmental Management (MSc)
CIWM Construction Waste Awareness
The course covers all of the basic waste issues of the standard WAC course. In addition, the material has been tailored to the construction/demolition industry where appropriate and includes additional related material.
CIWM Waste Awareness
The Waste Awareness Certificate is an initiative from the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM). The CIWM Waste Awareness Certificate has been designed for all employees and not just those who may have a direct responsibility for dealing with waste. It is therefore suitable for staff at all levels and across all sections of an organisation, whether they are involved in a manufacturing, retail or a service process.
CIWM Healthcare Awareness
The CIWM’s new version of the Waste Awareness Certificate for those working within the healthcare industry is now available. Building on the standard version of the Waste Awareness Certificate, this new version contextualises the main principles of the course into the healthcare sector where appropriate.
Food & Drink Industry Resource Solutions
This is a unique series of training workshops for the food and drink manufacturing industry from the University of Central Lancashire. Developed with the assistance of the industry, workshops address shortfalls in current training provisions and focus on waste and associated legislation, new technologies and resource efficiency. Individual workshops can be undertaken as part of any CPD programme. However, an additional feature which bridges the gap between workplace learning and academic qualifications has been developed. On completion of 10 workshops a portfolio can be submitted in order to gain a certificate. These 20 credit certificates counts as a level 4 module towards a degree programme.
Waste Resource Optimisation in Food Processing
This Certificate’s programme is primarily geared towards those in the food industry who want to obtain a combined knowledge of food industry waste and resource solutions. It is designed to enhance your career prospects by the application of scientific expertise to practical, business and managerial situations, and the understanding, implementation and response to rapidly evolving policies, interventions and market opportunities.
Constructing Solutions for the Low Carbon Economy
With the aid of all relevant sectors of the industry, the University of Central Lancashire has developed a series of dynamic workshops that will enhance the continuing professional development, and employment opportunities of personnel employed in the field of engineering construction, focusing on the low carbon economy. Each workshop will be aimed at a different aspect of the knowledge required to make an informed judgement and ensure the suitability of a particular technology as a solution to the identified need.
Recycling Managers Training Course
This course is primarily aimed at resource efficiency and optimisation within local authorities.
Toolbox Talks
Our 20-minute Toolbox Talks are designed as a versatile resource to enhance the skills of engineers and increase recycling uptake. Accessible at any time during their day, they offer a valuable option for individuals navigating a busy work environment.
Application for CPD courses should be made directly to the Centre for Waste Management: Courses are run subject to demand and a minimum number of attendees.
School of Forensic and Applied Science Kirkham Building KM110 University of Central Lancashire Preston PR1 2HE Tel: +44 (0) 1772 893963 or email Centre for Waste Management
- Prof Karl S Williams, Director of Centre for Waste Management
- Emmanuel Anike, Senior Product Developer, Centre for Waste Management
- Adam Holden, Business Development Manager, Centre for Waste Management
- Andrew Gullick, Project Manager and Lead Carbon Auditor
Post-Doc Researcher
- Dr Ala Kobier
PhD Students
- Daniel Lythgoe: Global Challenge of Covid-Related Plastic Waste (CPW) And Its Role in Mitigating Climate Change: Using Case Studies In The UK And Sri Lanka
- Temitope Olowolafe: Development of A Community-Based Urban Solid Waste Management Model for Remediation of Unofficial Dumpsites in Nigeria
- Kwabena Poku: Household Participation in Source Separation of Plastics Waste Towards A Circular Economy and Sustainable Waste Management: A Case Study of The Accra Municipality in Ghana
- Akinyele Akinwale Adebayo: Comparative Techno-Economical Assessment of Hybrid Energy Systems and Integration into Community Microgrid For Households in Nigeria.
- Mark Smurthwaite: A Study of Solutions to the Negative Environmental Impact of Food Supply through the Reduction of Packaging Waste
The University of Central Lancashire, alongside our UK and French partners are developing a draining cast-in-place concrete pavement based on shellfish co-products, with low environmental impact and significant drainage properties.