ISWA World Congress 2026

ISWA World Congress 2026 is a three-day international resource and waste management congress taking place from 9 to 11 November 2026 at the QEII Centre in Westminster, London, United Kingdom. Hosted by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) in partnership with the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), the congress brings together 1,200+ delegates from more than 50 countries, including waste and resource professionals, policymakers, academics, technology providers, local authorities, and NGOs.

Purpose and Objectives

The congress is designed to showcase global best practice in resource and waste management and examine how effective waste systems can protect health, environments, and economies. Its central theme is “2 Billion Tonnes Every Year and Rising – Waste or Resources?" with a focus on moving beyond waste through stronger systems, international collaboration, investment, and circular economy approaches.

Key Activities

The three-day programme includes keynote sessions, technical presentations, panel discussions, workshops, networking, and an exhibition. The recently released technical programme covers Material Streams, Circular Economy in Practice, Energy from Waste, Behavioural Change, Health & Safety, Finance & Investment, and Organic Waste Streams, with more than 400 submissions reviewed during programme development.

You’ll explore

• Human rights and the health impacts of waste
• Political commitment and stronger waste services
• Waste planning for local and national contexts
• Economics, finance and investment in resource management
• Circular economy implementation
• Material recovery, energy from waste and organic waste systems

Speakers

• Emma Hardy MP - Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Helen Czerski - Physicist, Oceanographer & Broadcaster
• Ms. Isabel Martínez - Deputy Executive Secretary, Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions
• Dr Sally Uren OBE - Executive Director and Chief Acceleration Officer, Forum for the Future

Significance

The congress is significant because it is one of the major international gatherings dedicated specifically to resource and waste management, bringing together policy, industry, research, and technology stakeholders. Its return to the UK for the first time in 30 years and its focus on the scale and economic consequences of global waste generation give the 2026 edition particular importance.

Expected Outcomes

Participants can expect practical insight into waste policy, circular economy implementation, resource recovery, investment, technology, and waste-system planning. The congress is intended to support international knowledge transfer, professional collaboration, technology partnerships, and the development of more resilient and sustainable resource and waste management systems.