The Global Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council – WtERT® is the international academic network advancing the recovery of energy and materials from residual, non-recyclable waste. This is the future of Waste-to-X, where waste becomes a resource: powering energy, fuels, chemicals, and new circular solutions.

Founded by the Earth Engineering Center of Columbia University, our aim is to unite top universities and research institutions across continents to advance sustainable waste management. Today, the global leadership of WtERT® is jointly stewarded by Columbia University and the College of Energy Engineering at Zhejiang University.

WtERT® provides trusted, science-based knowledge to governments, international organizations, and industry; grounded in peer-reviewed research and deep technical expertise. We are united by a shared mission: to build a circular, low-carbon economy by applying the best available technologies for post-recycling waste management.

We are a global knowledge hub, advancing innovation at the intersection of academia, policy, and technology: to accelerate climate action and resilience worldwide.

WtERT® is the global reference for science-based Waste-to-Energy knowledge and collaboration.