Opportunities for green jobs in the waste sector

The transition to greener economies includes managing the ever-increasing waste streams in ways that are contributing to a cleaner and healthier living environment as well as to the recuperation and recycling of useful resources.

Aside from providing an important contribution to reducing global GHG emissions, sustainable waste management is increasingly regarded as an opportunity to promote social inclusion and upgrade the quality of existing jobs of both women and men. However, this can only lead to sustainable development if the jobs that depend on waste prevention, reuse, recycling and recovery are decent jobs. In many countries, this requires the full recognition and integration of the contributions by workers and enterprises in the informal economy.

Social and environmentally sound waste management will require that workers, operators and businesses follow safety, health and environmental guidelines, and be part and parcel of a recognized waste management economic system. Local and national governments will need to set up solid waste management systems with clear regulations and incentives to support responsible waste management and recycling businesses in the different waste streams. At the same time, there is a growing need to support small enterprises in sound waste management and business development.

This course focuses on the potential for decent work promotion and green business development across the waste hierarchy, with a focus on waste collection; reuse, refurbishment and remanufacturing; sorting and recycling; as well as reduction at source. Lessons will be learned from a review of the international literature, analysis of case studies and interviews with those involved.

There will be special emphasis on:

- Improving current jobs and livelihoods - Developing solutions to bridge gaps in the recognition and integration of the contributions made by workers and SMMEs in the informal economy.

- Unlocking new opportunities - Identifying business ideas in the circular economy (product design and manufacture; waste reuse, refurbishment and remanufacturing) and jobs in new, alternative waste treatment technologies but also for new waste streams. 

The course is addressed to a mixed audience of representatives from national and local governments, social partners, enterprises, professionals and entrepreneurs from the waste sector; national and international development agencies; civil society organizations and academia. A gender-balanced participation is sought.

The training format will be highly interactive, participatory and learner-centred, including a combination of different learning approaches:

• Resource persons’ technical presentations

• Panel discussions among experts (including participants)

• Videos and other learning aids

• Group work exercises

• Case study analysis

• Interactive knowledge sharing sessions

• Study visits

Resource persons are specialists from the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa, the International Training Centre of the ILO, as well as researchers and professionals from NGOs and think tanks involved in sustainable waste management projects across the world.

Tuition cost: EUR 1,615 covering programme development and management, tutored distance learning phases, secretarial and administrative support, the use of classrooms and teaching equipment, office supplies, training materials and tutors‘ support, emergency medical insurance and socio-cultural activities.

Subsistence cost: EUR 635 covering full board and lodging at the Turin Centre’s campus.

Total cost: EUR 2,250

Prices shown do not include the cost of travel between participant’s home and the course venue.

Application form: https://oarf2.itcilo.org/STF/A9011975/en 

The deadline for applications is 12 October 2019.

Participants requiring visa support letters are encouraged to submit all required registration documents 5 weeks prior to travelling dates in order to ensure sufficient time to process requests through Italian Embassies.

For information regarding payment, cancellation and refunds, please consult:

http://www.itcilo.org/en/training-offer/how-to-apply

For further information, please contact: greenjobs@itcilo.org