University of Northampton
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Dr Margaret Bates outside the SITA centre
The SITA Centre at the University of Northampton
An estimated 150,000 new jobs will be created in the wastes management industry by 2010. Despite this influx there is still a lack of formal training qualifications available, which is why SITA Trust has allocated over £1.5M to fund a five year expansion plan of the wastes management faculty at the University of Northampton.
The SITA Trust funding has enabled the University to expand the range of courses it offers for undergraduates and wastes management professionals.
Research
A postdoctoral research fellow has been appointed; his main areas of specialisation are healthcare wastes and pro-environmental behaviour
PhD and MPhil students are researching:
· The characterisation and analysis of landfill fires
· The health effects of waste management activities
· The use of accelerated composting to treat animal by-products
· Environmental strategies for businesses
· Effects of clean production on pathogen loads
· The use of waste materials as slow release fertilisers
· Wastes management in London
· The use of restored landfills as pollination reservoirs
· The contribution of restored landfills to biodiversity
· Healthcare wastes management
· Sustainable effluent treatment
· Developing best practice for effective and integrated sustainable wastes management for the regions of England
· The impact of public attitudes and behaviours on effective valorisation of household organic waste into agricultural compost
· Developing the Business Case for New Technologies
This research has been presented in over 100 peer reviewed publications and conferences. There has been coverage of some of the research in local and National media including BBC radio, ITN, New of the World and Daily Mail.
Education
The University is a key member of the East Midlands United Nations Regional Centre of Expertise for Education for Sustainable Development. A range of flexible courses have been developed with the assistance of funding from SITA Trust, all of which are available by distance learning:
• HNC Wastes Management
• FDSc Wastes Management
• BSc Wastes Management and Pollution Control
• MSc Wastes Management (due for validation Dec 07)
• MBA Wastes Management (with APSWG)
Network
A network of universities involved in wastes management education and research has been established. WARMNET (Waste and Resources Management Network) acts a link between universities all over the UK. The network runs an annual conference to showcase postgraduate research details of which are on the networks website www.warmnet.org.uk
Community
SITA Centre staff work actively with the community to raise awareness about sustainable wastes management. This has included work with schools, youth groups, and special interest groups. So far we have worked with over 2500 individuals from all sectors of the community and over 2000 schoolchildren from reception to sixth form.
Staff also work with businesses carrying out training and audits to help them reduce their impact on the environment and save money. This has resulted in saving of over £7 million so far.
Waste Awareness Certificate
This one-day course was developed with the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management to help businesses understand how to deal with their waste in a more sustainable way. The course is endorsed by DEFRA, the Environment Agency, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and others. So far over 5000 people have completed the course and because of its success a specialist construction version is now available, with e healthcare waste version being developed.
The Trust has made another major investment at the University, paying for the creation of the largest specialist wastes management library housing thousands of books and articles from the Atomic Energy Authority. Admission to the library is open to all.
You can find out more about the range of courses on offer at the SITA Centre, including distance-learning options at the University of Northampton web site.
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The SITA centre
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The wastes management library
SITA Centre Report