LAWI100287 Waste management and circular economy

Type
course with non-continuous assessment
Semester hours
2
Lecturer (assistant)
Hrad, Marlies , Huber-Humer, Marion , Obersteiner, Gudrun
Organisation
Waste Management and Circularity
Offered in
Sommersemester 2026
Languages of instruction
Deutsch
Content

TOPICS OF THE COURSE:
The course covers the technical and natural science foundations of waste and circular economy across the entire value chain: from waste prevention and reuse through recovery (material and thermal) to disposal and landfill aftercare.

The focus is on the Circular Economy (CE) and the bioeconomy. Building on the waste management hierarchy and the 10R strategies (from Refuse to Recover), the course analyzes systemic approaches to waste prevention, resource efficiency, cascade use, and the design of material and energy cycles. Based on scientific fundamentals and current research, it highlights developments in the waste and circular economy and introduces methods for data collection and quantitative assessment (e.g., life cycle assessment).

A particular emphasis is placed on current challenges in specific hotspot areas: food waste, textiles, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), and (beverage) packaging. The current legal framework of the EU and Austria is also discussed to prepare students for the practical implementation of regulatory requirements.
Previous knowledge expected

It is recommended to attend the course LAWI100533 “Kreislauforientierte Siedlungswasser- und Abfallwirtschaft” beforehand, as it provides foundational knowledge on which this course builds.
Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences)

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
-understand, describe, and distinguish key concepts of the circular economy and bioeconomy, and identify application potentials
-structure and justify measures along the waste hierarchy and the 10R principles
-identify legal frameworks (EU/AT) and incorporate them into concept decisions
formulate and evaluate strategies for prevention, reuse, repair, and recycling for selected waste streams
-detail quality requirements for the collection and processing of selected waste streams
-explain suitable landfill concepts and integrate them into a circular economy system
-select basic assessment methods (e.g., MFA, LCA, footprints) and interpret results critically
You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.