Lectures, Assignments, project work and study visits
AL2130 Waste Management 7.5 credits
Advanced course in solid waste management. The overall aim is to give deeper knowledge in the problems and possibilities of waste management from a national and global perspective. Both industrial and municipal solid waste issues will be discussed. The course will employ a holistic view on solutions as well as technical aspects.
Information per course offering
Choose semester and course offering to see current information and more about the course, such as course syllabus, study period, and application information.
Information for Spring 2026 Start 13 Jan 2026 programme students
- Course location
KTH Campus
- Duration
- 13 Jan 2026 - 13 Mar 2026
- Periods
- P3 (7.5 hp)
- Pace of study
50%
- Application code
60075
- Form of study
Normal Daytime
- Language of instruction
English
- Course memo
- Course memo is not published
- Number of places
Min: 10
- Target group
Open for all students at KTH provided that the course can be included in their programme.
- Planned modular schedule
- [object Object]
- Schedule
- Schedule is not published
Contact
Course syllabus as PDF
Please note: all information from the Course syllabus is available on this page in an accessible format.
Course syllabus AL2130 (Spring 2024–)Headings with content from the Course syllabus AL2130 (Spring 2024–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )
Content and learning outcomes
Course disposition
Course contents
Description of waste; different types of waste, classification of waste, waste flows in society, amounts and composition of waste.
Causes of the waste problem and strategies to minimise these problems; Consumption and waste, waste hierarchy (waste prevention, recirculation etc), product development, problem solving with a system analysis approach.
Legal and economical means of control for waste management (Sweden and EU).
Waste treatment and handling, thermal and biological methods, landfill, handling of hazardous waste.
Intended learning outcomes
This course aims to give a deeper knowledge in the problems and possibilities of waste management from a national and global perspective. The course focuses on municipal solid waste issues and takes a holistic view on waste management solutions, as well as technical aspects
Aim and Objectives
After this course the student should be able to:
- Suggest and describe suitable technical solutions for biological and thermal treatment, and discuss the drawbacks and prerequisites for a chosen solution
- From a given case, connected to a solid waste problem, suggest, motivate and describe a way to tackle the problem from a system analysis approach
- Analyse and describe the potential of solid waste as a secondary raw material, and thereby associated problems and possibilities in a sustainable society
- Use and discuss around a system analytical tool connected to waste management
- Independently search for information connected to solid waste management, make a compilation of this, and analyse it in a written report
- Make an oral presentation of a group work and actively participate in the discussion of other groups work
Literature and preparations
Specific prerequisites
180 ECTS from a technical education, Eng B/6 according to the Swedish upper secondary school system
Literature
You can find information about course literature either in the course memo for the course offering or in the course room in Canvas.
Examination and completion
If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.
Grading scale
A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
Examination
- ANN1 - Study Visit, 1.5 credits, grading scale: P, F
- INL1 - Assignment, 3.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
- PRO1 - Project Work, 3.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.
The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.
Examiner
Ethical approach
- All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
- In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
- In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.
Further information
Course room in Canvas
Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.
Offered by
Main field of study
Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Education cycle
Second cycle