Outline of the Center
The Waste Management Research Center (WMRC) was established April 1, 2005 for the purpose of promoting new research and development in the fi eld of waste management science and technology, building capacity in the form of professionals in waste management and environmental technology assessment, and promoting of regional collaborative partnerships in technology among industry, academia, and government.
The philosophy of the center consists of three pillars:
1) at the campus level, the education of students in waste management policy and technology;
2) at the regional level, the study of the establishment of a sound materialcycle society based
on 3R policy and concrete action, and also on strong disaster waste management planning; and
3) at international level, the analysis of waste management problems in Asian and Pacific
countries and the design of suitable waste management policies and systems.
The WMRC is seeking the best, most comprehensive strategies and practices in waste
management in order to realize a sound material-cycle society.
Concrete focuses are as follows:
1) Supporting education and capacity-building activities for the development of strong waste
management professionals based on the principles of
ESD (education for sustainable development) promoted by the United Nations,
in collaboration with the Okayama University UNESCO Chair.
2) Conducting information-gathering via surveys on waste generation and awareness of 3R.
3) Design and evaluation of waste and disaster management policy.
4) Design and optimization of the waste management system by the development and
implementation of advanced collection, recycling, treatment, and disposal technologies.
5) Simulation and evaluation of disaster waste generation and treatment.
6) Planning of waste management education programs.
7) Development of environmental assessment tools, such as LCA tools, for waste management.
The WMRC aspires to be an information hub and world center of excellence in waste management, as well as providing an educational, training, and research collaboration space.