Rutu Gajera Presents Research on Sustainable Waste Management at International Conference in Greece
Doctoral student Rutu Gajera from the Division of Energy Systems represented KTH at the 13th International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management, held on Kos Island, Greece, from 24 to 27 June 2026.
During the conference , Rutu delivered an oral presentation titled “A Combined Material Flow Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Management in Indian Cities: Policy Scenarios and Uncertainty Analysis,” co-authored with her supervisors, Associate Professor Dilip Khatiwada and Assistant Professor Maryna Henrysson of dES.
The research, carried out within the BioCircularR project , combines material flow analysis and life cycle assessment to explore how different policy and technology pathways could support more sustainable municipal solid waste management in Indian cities. The work contributes to evidence-based decision-making by assessing alternative waste management scenarios involving improved waste collection and segregation, recycling, biological treatment, energy recovery and circular resource use.
The conference brought together researchers, practitioners and policymakers to exchange knowledge on sustainable waste management, circular economy, resource recovery, recycling, biological treatment and waste to energy systems. The conference also provided opportunities to connect with researchers working on life cycle assessment, circular economy, resource recovery and integrated waste management systems. These exchanges will support the further development of Rutu’s doctoral research at KTH.
“Participating in KOS 2026 was a rewarding opportunity to share our research with the international scientific community and receive valuable feedback. The discussions offered new perspectives on the practical challenges of implementing circular waste management strategies and highlighted the importance of adapting solutions to local conditions,” says Rutu.
Rutu gratefully acknowledges the travel scholarship provided by Karl Engver’s Foundation, which supported her participation in the conference. She also thanks her supervisor Dilip Khatiwada and co-supervisor Maryna Henrysson for their continued guidance and support.
