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Governance

As a registered charity operating under a Royal Charter, CIWM is committed to serving the public interest. Our mandate is directed by our vision for a thriving and resilient world enabled by the expertise of the professional resources and waste management community, and executed through our mission to connect and lead this community through knowledge, training, and innovation.

Istock 1784519454

Governance

As a registered charity operating under a Royal Charter, CIWM is committed to serving the public interest. Our mandate is directed by our vision for a thriving and resilient world enabled by the expertise of the professional resources and waste management community, and executed through our mission to connect and lead this community through knowledge, training, and innovation.

Family Recycling

CIWM’s purpose is to move the world beyond waste.

To achieve this, our Trustees set a strategic goal to lead with excellence, as an organisation recognised for exemplary standards of corporate governance, efficient and effective organisation management, and prudent guardianship of resources. This includes ensuring full compliance with all legal, charitable, and professional responsibilities.

As part of our governance activities, each year all volunteers are asked to complete a set of declarations confirming their commitment to CIWM’s key governance policies and processes and declaring any interests in other organisations that might create a conflict when undertaking their role. For a copy of these policies and declaration forms contact governance@ciwm.co.uk.  

These compliance steps are essential demonstrations of CIWM's commitment to strong governance and integrity. The processes are designed to be efficient, and the CIWM Executive team provides comprehensive support and guidance to all volunteers to ensure effective compliance.

The CIWM Royal Charter and Constitution  

CIWM’s Royal Charter was formally granted on 1 March 2002 and became fully effective on 1 July 2002. Subsequent amendments to both the Charter and its accompanying Bye-Laws were approved by Her Majesty The Queen through the Privy Council on 27 July 2004, thereby cementing the Institution's foundational legal status. The Bye-Laws have had additional edits since 2004, with the latest edit in 2022

The Royal Charter establishes the Institution's core Objects, which are dedicated to the public benefit:

To advance for the public benefit the art and science of waste management worldwide and so to promote education, the protection of public health and the preservation of the environment, and for that purpose to further promote and maintain good standards of practice, competence and conduct by all its members.

The Royal Charter, together with the following documents, forms the basis of CIWM’s Constitution:

  • Bye Laws - These may only be varied with the explicit approval of the Privy Council.
  • Regulations - These may be varied with the approval of CIWM Members.
  • Practice Directions - These may be varied by agreement of the Institution's General Council.

For more information on governance at CIWM, please contact: governance@ciwm.co.uk.

Committees   

CIWM has several committees that play a crucial role in its governance and operations. You can find a full list of these committees here. You can also find out more about the roles, responsibilities, relationships and accountabilities at CIWM and our wider community through the CIWM Stakeholder Map. If you’d like to join a CIWM committee, please email governance@ciwm.co.uk to find out how you can get involved.

Policies   

Below, you will find a selection of CIWM’s governance policies. If you require a policy that isn’t listed, please contact governance@ciwm.co.uk.

Our Annual Reports and AGM Minutes are available here.