The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management

The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management website provides a broad overview of the waste management industry. With more than sixty pages, it's a large website - one that would perhaps benefit from streamlining. The website is so diffuse that it's easiest to navigate via the site map, which divides the site neatly into sections.

The website is aimed at those involved in the waste management sector. There are specialist job listings, details of upcoming seminars and workshops, as well as advice on waste-centric education and training programmes. One particularly useful feature is the Green Pages, which is an online trade directory of companies dealing with recycling and waste management. It's free to register your company.

Of interest is the 'Waste Explained' section. The title is no exaggeration: the section begins with an in-depth definition of waste. An overview of waste-related legislation is also included and there's even a page of statistics (with pie charts) that shows how volume of waste differs across various sectors and in the four countries of the UK. There are pages devoted to tyres, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), packaging, refrigerants and many more types of waste.

Some of the language used in the website could be clearer and the information seems slightly dated (for example, the statistics refer to 2004/5). Unlike other parts of the website, 'Waste Explained' seems aimed at an audience that has a limited knowledge of waste and recycling. There's good, chunky information there, but nothing that will be a revelation for a seasoned waste professional.

Website link: www.ciwm.co.uk