The Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) and the Ontario Waste Management Association (OWMA) are seeking feedback from waste management professionals on how to effectively conduct and promote academic research that supports the sector in Canada.
The feedback gathered from the survey, which can be accessed by clicking here, will be used to help structure a Canadian research program managed by EREF and prioritize areas of focus, including advances in technology, workplace health and safety, the development of end markets, the optimization of operations and the collection and standardization of data.
The survey launch follows a successful meeting held in Toronto on March 2 hosted by EREF and the OWMA to bring together industry representatives, municipal officials and regulators to work on finding ways to better coordinate research efforts on sustainable materials management.
At the meeting, participants reviewed EREF’s work in the United States and discussed ways to meet Canadian research needs and build upon the Memorandum of Understanding signed last year by the OWMA and EREF. The MOU sets out a framework to fund and facilitate research to address the needs of the waste management sector in Canada and foster relationships with Canadian academic institutions.
Developing an EREF-led research program in Canada has several different advantages for the sector. It would:
- Provide a neutral platform for private and public organizations across the country to collaborate on common research interests;
- Leverage the expertise of EREF on facilitating and overseeing academic research; and,
- Connect North American research efforts, including those that involve companies already operating in both Canada and the United States.
To play a part in the helping to structure this program, all OWMA members are encouraged to take the survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EREFCanada).
EREF is a 501(c) class charity that funds and directs scientific research and educational initiatives for waste management practices to benefit industry participants and the communities they serve. For more complete information on EREF funded research, scholarships, visit www.erefdn.org.