Track Resource and Waste Engineering
Are you concerned about the increasing strain on our planet's resources and the growing piles of waste threatening our environment? Have you ever wondered how engineers can make a difference in tackling these pressing issues?
The Resource and Waste Engineering track is designed to equip you with the tools to address these challenges. Imagine being able to develop innovative engineering solutions that not only minimize the depletion of natural resources but also mitigate the harmful effects of waste on both human health and the environment.
In this track, you will explore the entire lifecycle of resources, from their extraction and use to re-use, recovery, and recycling. You will learn how to assess each stage critically, ensuring that resources are managed sustainably and waste is properly handled. Moreover, you will explore the concept of circular and sustainable materials, understanding how they can be integrated into construction and production processes to reduce environmental impact and promote long-term sustainability.
Key features
➨ Gain expertise in understanding material and waste flows to design and develop cutting-edge technologies for recycling, resource recovery, and waste management.
➨ Learn to critically assess circularity and optimize resource efficiency, actively contributing to sustainable practices and reducing environmental impact.
➨ Design and implement proactive waste management strategies, including circular redesigns, resource recovery, and efficient disposal practices, to reduce environmental impacts due to waste use and disposal.
➨ Engage in hands-on learning through laboratory work, field trips, and real-world projects focused on engineering waste and resource management.
The RWE track also offers you the opportunity to specialize in two exciting themes:
Waste processing technologies
Have you ever wondered what happens to your waste after you throw it away? With this specialization, you will discover the world of waste management. Explore cutting-edge technologies designed to separate waste streams and promote circularity in resource usage. By understanding how to efficiently process waste, you can play a vital role in creating a more sustainable future.
Reactive resources and wastes
Interested in understanding how certain materials interact with their environment? This specialization focuses on the dynamic relationship between reactive resources and wastes and environment. You will explore how these materials behave, and learn strategies to prevent, assess, and mitigate their impact on human health and the environment.
Are you ready to be part of the solution? Join us on the 'Resource and Waste Engineering' track and become a driving force in shaping a more sustainable world.
Research examples
From concrete waste to concrete buildings
Earth’s primary resources are finite. Human inventiveness, however, isn’t. At TU Delft’s laboratories, Francesco Di Maio is working on the recycling of concrete waste. He hopes his technologies will help to transform urban economies into self-sustaining loops.
Recycling refined
In ten years’ time the methods used to recycle plastic and electronic waste will be completely transformed, predicts Peter Rem, professor of Resources & Recycling at TU Delft. The recycling plants of today will have been replaced by distribution centres for recovered raw materials which can be made into high-quality products.
