Network growth in developing regions is an effective way of boosting, developing and promoting ISWA in other countries.
The joint action of national members of a given region, together with the possibility of having ISWA’s working groups support gives the opportunity of performing different activities with the aim of training the network members. Similarly, the local experience can be shared by different countries in the area, which will have access not only to the latest progress, but also to the local possibilities and ways of applying them.
The BEACON Conferences are an example of this, where case studies and knowledge transfer are encouraged with significant flavor.
A set of training activities about specific topics could be faced regionally adjusting the events calendar in a coordinated way by the corresponding National Members, therefore creating meeting offers that will cover the whole year.
Although in all these meetings the introduction of new available technologies and the transfer of gained experience in the usage of the preexisting ones have an important place, the possibility of facing them with a regional approach will allow to create more spaces with such aim. The marked need in the region and the possibility of interaction that the network gives the receptors makes it an excellent way of approaching and spreading such knowledge.
A compiled database that reflects the management reality of Urban Solid Waste in the region is under way. This excellent tool will allow to know the system’s strengths and weaknesses, which will be essential for outlining all future actions giving priority to primary needs and establishing links that will give access to economic assistance.
The need to spread ISWA’s action in the region and thus enlarging the number of national, organizational and individual members will be easier if the information provided is in Spanish and Portugese. For this reason we are translating Waste Management and Research, and Waste Management World publications as well as the periodic newsletter.
Research works made by regional members will be included in these publications, boosting productions.
The development of regional tours is seen as a possibility to bring interested people nearer the existing reality in terms of waste management, giving in turn the possibility of having a clear concept of the economic, political and social variables, as well as a full meeting agenda with experts in Urban Solid Waste management.
Network Publication Activities in Workshops, Conferences and other Events
Steps taken with the “Tenth Session of the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change” organizing committee allowed ISWA to have a stand in the blue Pavillion in “La Rural” Exhibition Center, where the meeting was held.
In that opportunity ISWA’s activities worldwide were spread and specially the local actions in the world of the new Latin American Network, as well as the topics related to the ISWA 2005 World Congress, in Buenos Aires. A lot of contacts were established, staff from ARS gave advice to interested people and handed out publications and through a multimedia projector different aspects of the meetings already held in our field were shown.
On 1st December 2004, the awards of the “II Edición del Concurso Escobas de Plata®, Oro®, Platino® y Menciones Especiales 2004” Contest were given at the ARS Association Headquarters.
This Contest was organized by the Asociación para el estudio de los Residuos Sólidos (ARS), ISWA national member in Argentina, together with ISALUD Foundation ATEGRUS, ISWA national member in Spain, and it had the support of the Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development Secretariat of the Ministry of Health and Environment.
Districts from the whole country, companies, service sector, consultants, equipment and machinery manufacturers for urban cleaning and waste management and also individuals who presented research works in Argentina took part in the contest. In the awards ceremony were present: National authorities, as for example the Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development, Dr. Atilio A. Savino, the Undersecretary of Planning, Ordering and Environmental Quality Undersecretary of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Lic. Luis Couyoupetrou, the Undersecretary of Natural Resources, Normative, Research, and Institutional Relationships of the Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development, Dr. Homero Bibiloni and Authorities of the Province of Buenos Aires such as the Mayor of Unquillo, in the province of Córdoba, Germán Eduardo Jalil and the Mayor of Chajarí, in the province of Entre Ríos, Juan Javier García, among others.
Beacon Conference
From 8th to 10th March 2004, the International Beacon Conference on Sanitary Landfills for Latin America was held at the Exhibition Center “La Rural”, organized by the International Solid Waste Association ISWA, la Asociación para el estudio de los Residuos Sólidos (ARS), and ISALUD Foundation.
During these days there were more than 350 attendants. Among them we can mention: Authorities, Mayors, Environment Secretaries, Congressmen and representatives of different provinces and districts, as well as professionals, technicians and students.
The 39 speakers were grouped according to specific topics: Sanitary Landfills in general (Technology, Building and Operation), and Gas Usage from Sanitary Landfills and Treatment of leachate liquid. During the third day of the Congress, a technical visit to Sanitary Landfill “Norte III”, at the Camino Parque del Buen Ayre, province of Buenos Aires, was made.
As a conclusion the lecturers and the ensuing debates, we found that individuals were generally interested in knowing and going deeply into international experiences of gas usage from sanitary landfills, and above all, in the viability of these projects at the different levels.
For those who could not attend the Beacon Conference, the CD Rom is available at the ARS headquarters with all the lectures exposed
The 2nd International Beacon Conference on Sanitary Landfills for Latin America will be held in Brazil in 2006.
Will be organized by ARS, ABRELPE and ISWA.
For Further informationplease contact ARS and/or ABRELPE Secretariats
abrelpe@abrelpe.com.br
ars@isalud.org
