Comprehensive Urban Waste Management Course
Online course of 300 hours in integrated municipal waste management, structured in 6 modules covering the waste management system, street cleaning and collection, treatment and disposal, specific urban waste streams and economic and contract management under Law 7/2022 and the Waste Framework Directive, with an assigned technical tutor.
Comprehensive Urban Waste Management Course — studying from Malta
Malta's civil engineering sector is active, driven by ongoing construction, infrastructure upgrades, coastal works and urban regeneration projects across the islands. Demand for civil engineers is closely linked to public works, land development and the modernisation of transport networks. Smart city initiatives, including digital mapping, traffic management and sustainable urban planning, are increasingly relevant. Engineers typically find employment with contractors, consultancies, government departments and utility providers managing infrastructure in a densely populated environment.
Fees for Malta: €644 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Which Maltese bodies regulate civil engineering and related professional practice?
The Chamber of Engineers (KSU) regulates the use of the title 'engineer' in Malta under the Engineering Profession Act. Planning and development matters fall under the Planning Authority, and public works and transport infrastructure involve government agencies including Transport Malta. A SEIUM qualification does not itself grant a regulated title; recognition is decided by employers or the relevant body.
What employers in Malta would value civil, rail or smart city engineering skills?
Malta's construction, infrastructure, consultancy and public sector firms are the main employers, along with transport and utilities bodies. Smart city and digital infrastructure work is growing in some areas. Employers typically look for chartered-level experience and licensing, so a private qualification should be seen as supporting your professional development rather than a substitute for those requirements.
How can I study this while working on site, and what support is there?
The programme is delivered entirely online in English, so you can study from anywhere in Malta without a student visa. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, and the course ends with a final project. Time commitment depends on the programme length, from 300 to 1,900 hours. Ask about instalment payments and employer sponsorship to help manage costs.
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
Understand how the municipal waste management system is organised.
Plan street cleaning and collection services.
Select treatment and disposal technologies.
Manage specific waste streams in the city.
Calculate costs and design the waste charge.
Apply the legal recycling and landfill targets.
Draw up an integrated municipal waste management plan.
Who it's for
- Heads of municipal waste services.
- Urban environment technicians.
- Treatment plant managers.
- Urban services inspectors.
- Waste management consultants.
- Environmental education officers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to work for municipalities and joint municipal bodies.
What you'll work with
- Law 7/2022 (Spanish law on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy)
- Directive 2008/98/EC (Waste Framework Directive)
- Directive 1999/31/EC (landfill of waste)
- Royal Decree 646/2020 (disposal of waste by landfill)
- Royal Decree 1055/2022 (packaging and packaging waste)
- Royal Decree 110/2015 (waste electrical and electronic equipment)
- Royal Decree 105/2008 (production and management of construction and demolition waste)
- Royal Decree 1310/1990 (use of sewage sludge in agriculture)
- QGIS
- Microsoft Excel
- EASETECH
- SimaPro
6 modules
1.1Municipal responsibilities for waste1.2Composition and generation per inhabitant1.3Fractions: residual waste, bio-waste, packaging, paper and glass1.4Bulky and special waste1.5Preparation for reuse and recycling targets1.6National and regional plans1.7Municipal waste by-laws1.8Service indicators1.9Organisational structure of the service1.10Case study: waste characterisation for a municipality
2.1Street cleaning planning2.2Manual and mechanical sweeping2.3Street washing and water management2.4Container provision and siting2.5Collection systems and frequencies2.6Commercial and institutional collection2.7Markets and large waste producers2.8Inspection and service quality2.9Public enquiries and incident handling2.10Practical exercise: container plan for a neighbourhood
3.1Mechanical-biological treatment plants3.2Composting and anaerobic digestion3.3Packaging sorting plants3.4Energy recovery from rejects3.5Refuse-derived fuels3.6Controlled landfills and their design3.7Landfill leachate and biogas3.8Closure and capping3.9Mass balance of the system3.10Workshop: mass balance of a district-level system
4.1Construction and demolition waste from minor works4.2Collection of household cooking oil4.3Waste electrical and electronic equipment4.4Batteries and accumulators4.5Textiles and furniture4.6Household healthcare waste4.7Pruning waste4.8Fixed and mobile recycling centres4.9Fly-tipping and illegal dumping4.10Lab: design of the recycling centre network
5.1Service costs by fraction5.2Mandatory waste charge5.3Service contracts and tender specifications5.4Contract indicators and penalties5.5Direct and indirect management5.6Joint municipal bodies and consortia5.7Information and control systems5.8Communication and awareness-raising5.9Carbon footprint of the service5.10Case study: economic study of the waste charge
6.1Diagnosis of the municipality6.2Generation and composition6.3Regulatory recycling targets6.4Design of street cleaning6.5Design of collection6.6Destination of fractions6.7Economic study of the service6.8Communication plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is QGIS, Microsoft Excel, EASETECH and SimaPro, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: diagnosis of municipal waste services, treatment mass balances and economic studies of waste charges. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrated project.
Standards covered: Law 7/2022, Directive 2008/98/EC, Directive 1999/31/EC, Royal Decree 646/2020, Royal Decree 1055/2022, Royal Decree 110/2015, Royal Decree 105/2008, Royal Decree 1310/1990.
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
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme 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 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with QGIS, Microsoft Excel, EASETECH and SimaPro, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. 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 are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and enough English 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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