On behalf of the International Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Association (lSWA), it is a pleasure to open this First Annual North American Waste-to-Energy Conference. Solid waste management has moved to the forefront of the environmental agenda. The level of activity and concern by citizens and governments worldwide has reached unprecedented levels. Nations are considering restrictions on pa...

Although informal waste collectors are sometimes organized in cooperatives, their working conditions remain extremely precarious and unsafe. The paper discusses the findings of action oriented, participatory qualitative research with several recycling groups in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. During workshops with the recyclers mapping, acting, and drawing methods helped reveal he...

rapid urbanization and industrialization, population growth and economic growth in developing countries make management of municipal solid waste more complex comparing with developed countries. furthermore, the conventional municipal solid waste management approach often is reductionists, not tailored to handle complexity. therefore, the need to a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach r...