ISWA urges cross-sector coalitions
The International Solid Waste Association is prioritizing partnerships and capacity building in 2026, arguing that waste and climate challenges require results-oriented coalitions across sectors — a model Vermont organizers could replicate. (waste-management-world.com)
ISWA will stage its World Congress in London from 9–11 November 2026 under the theme “Beyond waste,” with programme tracks on human rights, political commitment, waste planning, economics and circular economy. (iswa2026.org) Organisers and partners say the Congress will spotlight real-world, cross‑sector solutions and technical site visits intended to accelerate system-level capacity building before 2030. (news.fmbusinessdaily.com) Vermont’s 2012 Universal Recycling Law (Act 148) — passed unanimously and phased in between 2014 and July 1, 2020 — is a concrete example of multi‑stakeholder lawmaking that created new infrastructure and service requirements statewide. (dec.vermont.gov) Local implementation in Vermont has relied on municipal solid‑waste districts for capacity building, illustrated by Chittenden Solid Waste District’s Environmental Depot and mobile “Rover” hazardous‑waste collections funded in part by state grants. (cswd.net) UVM-led research found public compliance and support rose after the food‑scraps ban, with survey results showing 85% of Vermonters composting and 61% reporting a moral obligation to divert food waste. (uvm.edu) Researchers also recorded a household increase in separated food‑scrap disposal from about 48% before the ban to roughly 71% after implementation, highlighting measurable outcomes from coordinated policy and outreach. (biocycle.net) Vermont’s experience also underscores conflicts that coalitions must manage: Rutland‑headquartered Casella Waste Systems operates major regional infrastructure including the state’s landfill and organics facilities, and the company has faced recent enforcement actions and local opposition. (casella.com) Collective lessons cited by Vermont practitioners and national observers include aligning state policy timelines with local capacity investments, using waste districts and community groups for outreach and collections, and pairing regulation with targeted grants and producer‑responsibility discussions to reduce industry bottlenecks. (ilsr.org)
