Waste Management Technical Manager Course

Lesson 1 • Regulatory and Compliance Framework

Introduces the hierarchy of waste regulations from national to local levels and key compliance duties. Provides context for legal obligations managers must fulfill.

Lesson 2 • Waste Generation and Quantification

Examines sources of waste generation and methods for measuring output volumes. Connects accurate quantification to planning and regulatory reporting.

Lesson 3 • Stakeholder Roles and Responsibilities

Maps the roles of generators, transporters, processors, and regulators in the waste system. Clarifies accountability chains relevant to technical managers.

Lesson 4 • Waste Classification and Typology

Covers municipal, industrial, hazardous, and special waste categories with defining characteristics. Establishes the classification framework used throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Fleet Management and Maintenance

Addresses vehicle selection, preventive maintenance programs, and fleet lifecycle management. Ensures reliable collection operations and regulatory vehicle compliance.

Lesson 2 • Transportation Compliance and Safety

Covers hazardous material transport regulations, vehicle inspection requirements, and incident response. Ensures managers can maintain legal and safe transport operations.

Lesson 3 • Collection System Design

Covers service area analysis, collection frequency, and container selection for different waste streams. Connects system design choices to cost and service quality outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Route Optimization and Scheduling

Teaches routing algorithms, time-window constraints, and scheduling tools to minimize travel distance and fuel use. Directly reduces operational costs and emissions.

Lesson 1 • Contamination Control and Quality

Addresses contamination sources, quality standards for end markets, and rejection rate management. Directly impacts commodity revenue and market access.

Lesson 2 • Recyclable Material Streams

Identifies paper, plastics, metals, glass, and organics as distinct streams with unique processing needs. Establishes material knowledge required for facility design decisions.

Lesson 3 • Material Recovery Facility Design

Covers MRF layout, equipment selection, and throughput planning for single-stream and dual-stream inputs. Connects design choices to sorting efficiency and material purity.

Lesson 4 • Commodity Markets and Revenue

Explains commodity pricing dynamics, contract structures, and market risk management for recovered materials. Enables managers to optimize financial returns from recycling.

Lesson 1 • Composting Process and Technology

Explains aerobic decomposition principles, windrow, aerated static pile, and in-vessel composting methods. Connects process parameters to compost quality outcomes.

Lesson 2 • Anaerobic Digestion Systems

Covers wet and dry anaerobic digestion, biogas capture, and digestate management. Links digestion technology to energy recovery and nutrient cycling benefits.

Lesson 3 • Compost Quality and End Markets

Addresses compost maturity testing, product standards, and market development for finished compost. Ensures output meets agronomic and regulatory requirements.

Lesson 4 • Organic Diversion Program Management

Covers source-separated collection design, community engagement, and diversion rate tracking for organics. Connects program management to regulatory diversion targets.

Lesson 1 • Environmental Monitoring Programs

Explains groundwater, surface water, air quality, and settlement monitoring at active landfills. Ensures early detection of environmental impacts and regulatory compliance.

Lesson 2 • Leachate and Gas Management

Covers leachate collection, treatment options, and landfill gas extraction and utilization systems. Links proper management to environmental protection and revenue potential.

Lesson 3 • Daily Landfill Operations

Addresses waste placement, compaction, daily cover application, and equipment management. Connects operational practices to airspace efficiency and regulatory compliance.

Lesson 4 • Landfill Closure and Post-Closure Care

Covers final cover system design, closure certification, and long-term post-closure monitoring obligations. Prepares managers for responsible site stewardship after active filling ends.

Lesson 1 • Hazardous Waste Disposal Options

Explains secure landfill disposal, deep-well injection, and export for treatment as disposal pathways. Connects disposal selection to waste characteristics and regulatory constraints.

Lesson 2 • Hazardous Waste Storage and Handling

Addresses container management, labeling, accumulation time limits, and storage area design. Connects proper storage practices to regulatory compliance and incident prevention.

Lesson 3 • Hazardous Waste Identification and Classification

Covers listed, characteristic, and mixed hazardous waste definitions and testing methods. Establishes the classification skills required for all downstream management decisions.

Lesson 4 • Emergency Response and Spill Management

Covers contingency planning, spill containment procedures, and notification requirements for hazardous releases. Prepares managers to lead effective emergency responses.

Lesson 1 • Facility Permitting and Public Acceptance

Explains environmental impact assessment, permit application processes, and community engagement for WTE facilities. Prepares managers to navigate siting and approval challenges.

Lesson 2 • Energy Recovery Systems

Covers steam generation, turbine power production, district heating integration, and grid interconnection. Connects energy recovery design to facility revenue and efficiency metrics.

Lesson 3 • Thermal Treatment Technology Overview

Introduces mass-burn incineration, refuse-derived fuel, pyrolysis, and gasification as thermal pathways. Establishes technology literacy needed for facility evaluation and selection.

Lesson 4 • Air Emissions Control

Addresses pollutant formation, flue gas treatment systems, and continuous emissions monitoring requirements. Ensures managers can maintain compliance with air quality standards.

Lesson 1 • Financial Analysis and Cost Modeling

Addresses life-cycle cost analysis, tipping fee structures, and budget forecasting for waste facilities. Enables managers to build financially sound business cases for investments.

Lesson 2 • Circular Economy Integration

Applies circular economy principles to waste system redesign, industrial symbiosis, and product stewardship. Positions managers to lead the transition beyond traditional waste management.

Lesson 3 • Procurement and Contract Management

Covers competitive procurement processes, contract types, performance specifications, and vendor management. Ensures managers can secure and oversee service contracts effectively.

Lesson 4 • Integrated Waste Management Planning

Covers needs assessment, scenario analysis, and technology mix selection for integrated waste systems. Connects planning methodology to achievable diversion and cost targets.