Master’s in Urban Solid Waste Engineering and Circular Economy
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in municipal solid waste and circular economy engineering: 12 modules covering the waste framework, collection, sorting and recycling, biological treatment, energy recovery, landfills, special waste streams, extended producer responsibility, prevention and reuse, planning and digitalisation, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Apply the waste hierarchy and Law 7/2022.
Design efficient separate collection models.
Size sorting, composting and biomethane plants.
Assess energy recovery and landfill alternatives.
Manage special waste streams and extended producer responsibility schemes.
Plan waste prevention and reuse.
Analyse waste systems with LCA and compliance scenarios.
Who it's for
- Waste management officers at local and regional authorities.
- Treatment plant engineers working on sorting, composting or energy recovery.
- Circular economy consultants advising public bodies and companies.
- Heads of municipal cleansing services.
- Managers of extended producer responsibility schemes.
- Material flow analysts working with waste data and LCA.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to work in local government.
What you'll work with
- Directive 2008/98/EC (Waste Framework Directive)
- Law 7/2022 (Spanish law on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy)
- Royal Decree 646/2020 (disposal of waste by landfill)
- Royal Decree 1055/2022 (packaging and packaging waste)
- Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation)
- Royal Decree 506/2013 (fertiliser products, including compost)
- Directive 2010/75/EU (industrial emissions)
- Directive (EU) 2019/904 (single-use plastics)
- EASETECH
- QGIS
- SimaPro
- Python
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1The European waste hierarchy1.2Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils1.3Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC1.4Circular Economy Action Plan1.5Spanish Circular Economy Strategy1.6Municipal recycling targets1.7Urban circularity indicators1.8Composition of municipal waste1.9Waste generation and socio-economic factors1.10Case study: waste diagnosis of a municipality
2.1Separate collection models2.2Door-to-door collection2.3Containers with user identification2.4Separate collection of bio-waste2.5Collection route optimisation2.6Electric refuse collection vehicles2.7Recycling centres and special collections2.8Commercial waste similar to household waste2.9Pay-as-you-throw charges2.10Lab: route optimisation with QGIS
3.1Packaging sorting plants3.2NIR optical sorters3.3Eddy current separation3.4Mechanical recycling of plastics3.5Paper and cardboard recycling3.6Glass packaging recycling3.7Recovery of ferrous and non-ferrous metals3.8Quality of recovered materials3.9Secondary raw material markets3.10Practical exercise: mass balance of a packaging plant
4.1Composting of bio-waste4.2Anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction4.3Biogas production and upgrading4.4Biomethane and grid injection4.5Digestate management4.6Compost quality according to RD 506/20134.7Odour control in plants4.8Mechanical-biological treatment (MBT)4.9Home and community composting4.10Case study: biomethane plant from bio-waste
5.1Incineration with energy recovery5.2Grate and fluidised bed furnaces5.3Steam cycles and R1 efficiency5.4Flue gas cleaning5.5Management of bottom ash and fly ash5.6Solid recovered fuels (SRF)5.7Waste gasification5.8Pyrolysis of plastics5.9Best available techniques in incineration5.10Lab: energy balance of an energy-from-waste plant
6.1Landfill design according to RD 646/20206.2Lining systems6.3Leachate management6.4Landfill gas capture6.5Geotechnical stability of cells6.6Closure and capping6.7Restrictions on landfilling of waste6.8Post-closure monitoring and surveillance6.9Reclamation of old landfills6.10Workshop: water balance of a landfill
7.1Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)7.2Collection of portable batteries and accumulators7.3End-of-life tyres7.4Textile waste and its collection7.5Construction and demolition waste7.6Household hazardous waste7.7Furniture and bulky waste7.8Used oil management7.9Healthcare waste and its classification7.10Practical exercise: textile collection model
8.1Principles of extended producer responsibility8.2Collective EPR schemes8.3Royal Decree 1055/2022 on packaging8.4Eco-modulation of fees8.5Transposition of Directive (EU) 2019/9048.6Special tax on plastic packaging8.7Deposit-return systems8.8Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging8.9EPR for textiles8.10Case study: impact of a deposit-return system
9.1Waste prevention plans9.2Food waste and its legislation9.3Reuse and preparation-for-reuse centres9.4Repair and the right to repair9.5Ecodesign to reduce waste9.6Responsible consumption and habits9.7Circular public procurement9.8Public awareness campaigns9.9Prevention indicators9.10Lab: prevention plan for a municipality
10.1LCA of waste management systems10.2Material flow models10.3Management costs by fraction10.4Design of waste charges10.5Regional and local waste plans10.6Waste information systems10.7Target compliance scenarios10.8Greenhouse gas emissions10.9Multi-criteria analysis of infrastructure10.10Workshop: compliance scenarios with EASETECH
11.1Container fill-level sensors11.2Computer vision in sorting11.3Sorting robots in plants11.4Digital waste traceability11.5Industrial symbiosis platforms11.6Digital product passport and materials11.7Digital twins of collection services11.8Open municipal waste data11.9Recycling start-up ecosystem11.10Practical exercise: vision model to classify packaging
12.1Diagnosis of the waste system12.2Composition and flow analysis12.3Proposed collection model12.4Treatment infrastructure12.5Life cycle assessment of the system12.6Costs and charging model12.7Public communication plan12.8Compliance roadmap12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is EASETECH, QGIS, SimaPro and Python, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: municipal waste characterisation, collection route optimisation and life cycle assessment of management systems. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Directive 2008/98/EC, Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils, Royal Decree 646/2020, Royal Decree 1055/2022, Regulation (EU) 2025/40, Royal Decree 506/2013, Directive 2010/75/EU, Directive (EU) 2019/904.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with EASETECH, QGIS, SimaPro and Python, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent professional experience, plus a suitable computer and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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