National Institute of Environmental Research hosts international conference on waste-to-energy

The National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) will host the 12th International Conference on Integrated Pollution Control and Environmental Management (ICPEC) from October 14 to 16 in Pohang, South Korea. Held in collaboration with the Korea Energy, Climate and Environment Council, the conference focuses on sustainable energy and environmental management for carbon neutrality, with a specific emphasis on artificial intelligence.

The event will bring together approximately 500 experts and industry representatives from 10 countries, including China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Discussions will center on international trends and future directions for waste-to-energy technologies, moving beyond simple disposal toward recovering resources and energy from waste.

This initiative follows South Korean policies such as the ban on direct landfilling of household waste in the Seoul metropolitan area starting January 2026, and the expansion of biogas production targets using organic waste. The NIER aims to use the conference to strengthen international cooperation and establish scientific foundations for stable waste treatment and resource recovery.