The Level 3 VRQ focuses on the Principles and Practices of Sustainable Wastes Management.

The prime audience for this Course is individuals working in the process industry (or allied industries), who may or may not be graduates, but who are seeking to transfer into the waste management industry to work at supervisory or junior management level and need to gain a detailed understanding of the principles and practices of sustainable waste management.

The course consists of a taught section, and then a work or theory based project. 

The taught section of the course has been split into 6 units, each covering a different aspect of waste:

• Unit 1 - Principles of Sustainability and its Impact on Waste Management
Outlines the main international agreements behind the concept of sustainable development.  Waste is introduced and defined and the impact that sustainability has on waste management and how waste management is changing to meet longer term needs is discussed.

• Unit 2 - Waste Generation in the UK
Provides the student with essential background knowledge on the different waste types produced, the effect of their characteristics on the treatment options available and the factors affecting waste generation.

• Unit 3 - Waste Management Policy and Legislation
Provides all students with the waste management background knowledge and context that they will require in order to successfully complete the subsequent technology-based units

• Unit 4 - Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders involved in Waste Management
Provides all students with an appreciation of the functions and responsibilities of those involved in waste management from the producers through to the disposal and regulatory authorities.

• Unit 5 - Technical Aspects of Wastes Management
Provides all students with an appreciation of the various technologies that are available for managing waste. 8 lectures cover:
Waste Collection
Recycling
Landfill and Incineration
Composting
Anerobic Digestion
Mechanical-Biological Treatment
Pyrolysis and Gasification
Emerging Technologies

• Unit 6 - Health and Safety in the Waste Management Industry
Provides all students with an appreciation of the general principles of, and legal requirements associated with, health and safety (H&S) and the role of health and safety in waste management.

The course is intended to be delivered in a number of formats, including day-release and possibly distance learning.  The day-release structure is likely to run over seven weekly or fortnightly sessions, and is also interspersed with site visits and course exercises.  The final session includes an exam, to confirm that the student has reached the required level of understanding. 

The student is also expected to complete a workplace-based assignment over a period of three months, which itself will culminate in a project report.

Please click here for a Course Outline Booklet detailing the Learning Outcomes associated with each module please see the course outline attached below. The course outline also detailes the National Occupational Standards relevent to this course.