Waste Management

Waste Management is offered as a major field of study in the Master of Environment degree.

Waste is more than just what people throw in the bin. There are air-borne emissions, liquid wastes that impact on water supplies as well as the complex waste streams produced by industry that can have toxic impacts on the environment.

Waste Management is concerned with the management of various waste streams. We study waste avoidance and minimisation, best environmental practice and provide the tools for sound decision making at the design and implementation phases of waste management projects.

By studying Waste Management, you'll develop theoretical and practical skills for working in environmental control authorities, industry and elsewhere. If you are a student with an undergraduate degree in another discipline, gain investigative and management skills as part of an engineering education.

You can expect to find employment in environmental control authorities, urban and industrial workplaces, local government, education, or as a consultant.

Students who complete the Master of Environment will have:

• Knowledge to undertake professional practice in environment or sustainability, including:
  • Specialised knowledge in an environmental discipline or field of practice, including knowledge of recent developments in this field
  • Knowledge of the cross-disciplinary nature of environmental issues and professional practice to promote sustainable futures
  • Knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to specialist field of environmental inquiry
• Skills for collaborative and creative problem solving in environmental practice, including:
  • Ability to critically analyse and synthesise environmental knowledge
  • Ability to envision environmental change and propose pathways to realise this change
  • Ability to communicate complex environmental knowledge and research effectively to a range of audiences
  • Ability to work effectively in cross-disciplinary teams
  • Technical skills for professional practice and research in field of specialisation
• Demonstrated capacity to:
• Exercise well developed judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner in an environmental discipline or professional field
• Plan and execute a substantial project in an area of environmental research or practice

Upon successful completion of the Development specialisation, students will be able to:

• Analyse various waste streams and identify opportunities for waste avoidance and minimisation
• Design and implement strategies for waste management

Integrate knowledge and collaborate across disciplines and sectors to ensure the effectiveness of waste management projects

Students will be required to complete the two core subjects, plus choose three subjects from the compulsory specialisation subject list. Students in the 200 point pathway must take at least 12.5 points of subjects from the compulsory capstone subjects – these subjects enable students to complete an independent project in the area of waste management. Students in the 100 point pathway will not normally be required to complete this component. Students must also undertake electives to make up the balance of the award. The selection of electives is made in consultation with the Waste Management major coordinator. A list of subjects with special requirements within this specialisation can be found here:

http://environment.unimelb.edu.au/courses/streams/waste_management

Core Subjects

Students must complete the following core subjects:

Compulsory Specialisation

Students must complete at least three of the following compulsory specialisation subjects:

Compulsory Capstone Experience

Students must complete at least 12.5 points from the following compulsory capstone subjects - please note that if you select either a 25 or 50 point subject that spreads across two semesters you must enrol into the subject in both semesters (your student centre will be able to assist with this). Students completing the 100 point pathway will normally be exempt from this requirement.

Elective Subjects

Students should make up the balance of the award with electives. Subjects in the list below are recommended. Other subjects may be taken with the approval of stream coordinator.