Technological Advancements in Waste Management: Challenges and Opportunities

Dr. Vipin Kumar is Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, India. He earned his doctorate in environmental science and his postgraduate degree in microbiology. Dr. Kumar's areas of research interest include microbial remediation of various persistent pollutants, solid waste management, eco-restoration, microbial electrochemical systems and biological wastewater treatment, among others. He has published more than 80 research publications in various national and international journals of repute. He has completed numerous research and consulting projects funded by various ministries of the Government of India and industries of national importance. He has guided 14 Ph.D. scholars and 26 M.Tech dissertations. He has received the prestigious Inder Mohan Thapar Foundation (IMFT) research award for publication in recognition of excellence in Research. Dr. Kumar also serves as the Associate Dean of Faculty (recruitment), the Coordinator (Environment) for Earth, Energy and Environmental Research and the Head of the Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. He is a fellow of the Geological Society of India and is also a life member of various reputed organisations, including, but not limited to the Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI); The Mining, Geological and Metallurgical Institute of India (MGMI), Kolkata; Indian Water Works Association (IWWA) Mumbai; The Indian Science Congress Association, Kolkata and others. Recently he has been selected as a member of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences (NASI), Prayagraj, India.

Prof. Brajesh K. Dubey is Professor of Circular Engineering at the Department of Civil Engineering. He is also Chair of the School of Water Resources at the IIT Kharagpur, India. Prof. Dubey has more than 18 years of socially focused applied research experience within the broad fields of environmental, sustainable and resilient systems and circular economy approaches, addressing the nexus among sustainability, resiliency, infrastructure, waste, energy, health and the environment, including advocating the need of science-based policy. His research has been funded by several national and international agencies. such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), National Geographic Society (NGS), International Transport Forum (ITF), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), World Resource Institute UK, Alliance to End Plastic Waste USA, and Circular Initiative, Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Indo-German Science and Technology Centre, Department of Science and Technology (DST) - Government of India, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Auckland Regional Council and New Zealand, among others. He also has 4 years of industry experience as a Civil/Environmental Engineer at petrochemicals, refineries and offshore oil platforms. He has authored 150 journal papers, 4 edited books and conference proceedings, 25 book chapters and 27 full conference papers. Dr. Dubey has delivered more than 75 invited presentations in various countries, including Canada, USA, China, Germany, India, South Korea, Thailand, and UK. Prof. Dubey serves as Associate Editor or Editorial Board Members of 5 different journals, served on various professional committees, including the State Level Advisory Committee for Solid Waste Management, Ministry of Urban Development and Urban Affairs, Government of West Bengal, Kolkata, India. Prof. Dubey is also the co-chair and member of the Organic Waste Facility Public Liaison Committee, City of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Dr Kunwar D. Yadav is a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (NIT), Surat, Gujarat, India. He received his Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur in 2009. He has over 17 years of experience in the field of environmental engineering as an academician. His area of interest is mainly focused on but not limited to ecological sanitation, solid waste management, composting and vermicomposting of organic waste, and reuse and recycling of greywater. He also handles many institute-level responsibilities and has also established himself in other various key positions, such as Environmental Auditor at the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Solid Waste Management Expert at the National Green Tribunal, Waste Management Expert at Surat Municipal Corporation, and International Ecosan Expert at Capacity Building Trainer for Ecological Sanitation and National Compost Expert at GIZ/MoU&UA, New Delhi. He is Lifetime Member of various professional bodies like the Indian Water Works Association (IWWA), the International Water Association (IWA), the National Solid Waste Association of India (NSWAI), and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA). He has published 8 book chapters, 01 edited book, 86 publications in various reputed international and national journals and conference proceedings. He has 9 granted patents and IPRs. Dr Yadav delivered more than 60 expert lectures in the Industry and academic institutes. Furthermore, Dr. Yadav has served as Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator on numerous sponsored research projects.