ZWE at COP30: Utilising MRBT and bio-waste solutions to combat methane in the waste sector

Janek Vähk is the Zero Pollution Policy Manager at Zero Waste Europe, where he drives the organisation’s efforts to cut pollution and accelerate the transition to a circular, toxic-free economy. With a strong focus on EU policy, Janek works to connect climate, health, and environmental goals into coherent, people-centred solutions. He holds an MSc in Environmental Sciences and Policy from the Central European University.

A practising lawyer for 10 years, Charlotte Morton studied for her MBA at London Business School before setting up a car club business, and then the business side of the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) in 2009. Given the even bigger global potential, which must be achieved if the Paris Climate Change targets, the Global Methane Pledge and UN Sustainable Development Goals are to be met, Charlotte played a pivotal role in establishing the World Biogas Association (WBA) in 2016 to promote and increase the rate of uptake of biogas globally. Charlotte was awarded an OBE in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to the biogas industry.

Ian McKee is the founder and CEO of Carrot, a foundation developing open-source technologies to accelerate the low-carbon, inclusive circular economy. A Brazil native with a career across tech, finance, and sustainability, Ian now focuses on scaling biowaste recycling to cut methane emissions and unlock the circular economy globally.

Jonathan Banks has worked with Clean Air Task Force (CATF) since 1999 and serves as the Global Director of the Methane Pollution Prevention program. He leads CATF’s international initiatives to drive methane reductions across the energy, waste, and agricultural sectors. Jonathan brings over two decades of experience working with governments, companies, and civil society around the world to foster and implement policies to reduce methane emissions. With extensive experience developing and implementing methane reduction strategies, Jonathan drives global, national, and subnational efforts to accelerate climate progress.

James Law is a Vice President at SCS Engineers in Solid Waste Division and International Services.  He has over 36 years of experience in civil/geotechnical engineering and solid waste management serving as National Expert in Geotechnical Engineering/Landfill Engineering on both national and international projects. He has extensive project experience for both private and public sectors in landfill design, construction, operations,  management and regulations, both in the US and in developing economies such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and China.  He is an expert in estimating landfill leachate generation quantity and also evaluating dumpsite slope failures and remediation efforts.

James serves as a board member of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) representing the organisation membership. Currently he is the Chair of the ISWA Working Group on Landfill and the Task Force on Closing Dumpsites Initiative.  He is certified as ISWA International Waste Manager (IWM) with  International status.

Mr. Law is also an active member in the SWANA Landfill Management Technical Division, and a member of the Leachate Management Committee.  He is SWANA certified (SC) as Manager of Landfill Operations (MOLO) as well as Manager of Leachate Management & Bioreactor Landfills.  He is also certified as a Landfill Operation and Transfer Station Operation Specialist by the North Carolina Chapter of SWANA.

Mr. Law graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Engineering in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Toronto, Canada.  He is licensed as a Professional Engineer in multiple states in USA and certified as BCEE by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers with specialty in Environmental Sustainability.  He is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). Finally, on the subject of going green and sustainability, and practicing leadership in energy and environmental Design, he is a LEED Accredated Professional (AP) in Building Design & Construction (BD+C) by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).