Potential Interview Questions & Topics

First of all don't be frightened by the list of topics below.

It is not possible to provide an exhaustive list of topic areas that may be required to demonstrate wider industry knowledge. This list should be used to identify any areas where you do not consider you are familiar with the basic principles and current issues relating to these topic areas.

You may also be asked about the current financial crisis and how it has affected the industry as a whole, or what the industry may look like in 10/20/30 years from now.

Maintaining an awareness of current issues is important; this can be done through CIWM's Website, CIWM News Online, the CIWM journal, CIWM centre events as well as recent media attention and relevant news websites, publications and weekly updates.

Always consider these topic areas from the perspective of others within the industry and in context with current government policy and not just from your own interests and understanding.

You are not expected to have an in depth knowledge on issues not covered by your area of expertise, however you should have an awareness of the key issues and the current hot topics for the industry.
Use the list to identify any gaps in your awareness and to structure further reading around these topics or to attend specific local CIWM centre events.

Topics areas to consider:

National (UK) Waste and Resources Policy and Strategy
Targets - biodegradable diversion, recycling, reduction, voluntary commitments
Waste Hierarchy - Prevention, re-use, recycling, recovery, disposal
Climate change, carbon agendas and energy policy

Legislation (current and future, recent changes and issues)
Waste Framework Directive issues and status
Environmental permitting, waste management licensing, exemptions
Producer Responsibility - packaging, WEEE, batteries, ELV
Landfill Directive
Landfill Bans, liquids, tyres, future examples
Duty of Care, waste carriers, brokers
Hazardous waste, regulation and management
Civil Sanctions
International Waste Shipments, imports and exports
Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act
Health & Safety at Work Act

Waste Hierarchy
Article 4 of Waste Framework Directive
Prevention
Preparing for Re-Use
Recycling
Other recovery e.g. energy recovery
Disposal

Street Scene/ Local Environmental Quality
Recycling initiatives - eg. Recycling On The Go
Litter, gum
Graffiti
Street cleansing
National Indicators

Technologies, Waste and Recycling Operations
Principles, impacts, public perception plus link to legislation
Landfill - Environmental impacts, leachate and landfill gas control and management
Energy from waste, incineration, combined heat and power, pyrolysis, gasification, anaerobic digestion
Materials recycling/recovery facilities
Household waste recycling centres
Composting - open windrow, In-vessel
Management and treatment of hazardous waste

Waste Collection Systems
Municipal - definitions
Biodegradable waste diversion from landfill (LATS/LAS)
Construction waste - targets and site waste management plans
Collection systems and frequencies
Alternative weekly collections
Pre-treatment of waste
Food waste collections
Co-mingled collection V kerb side sorting
Recycling targets - Household/commercial and industrial
Contract Management
Commercial & industrial waste collections

Regulation and Enforcement
Role of regulators, who are they and their prime objectives
Current regulatory issues e.g. civil sanctions,

Environmental Issues
Potential environmental impacts - noise, odour, pollution, amenity loss, flies, pests, birds,
litter, energy wastage, heat and carbon
Contaminated land

Health and Safety
General legislation
Industry performance and challenges
Key issues
Solutions

Related Issues
Finances - landfill tax, aggregate tax, council tax, PFI, PPP
Biodegradable plastics
Planning process and public opposition
Life Cycle Assessment
Waste management standards across Europe
Budget cuts - what might be affected?
Communications and stakeholder engagement, public opinion/fears
Definition of waste
Carbon agenda and management, Carbon Reduction Commitment
Energy Policy

Examples of the work of other relevant organisations
WRAP
Keep Britain Tidy