Registrations Open for Workshop #5

How to effectively communicate and mobilise citizens to implement the HHW sorting obligations?

WORKSHOP 5: Citizen Communication on Household Hazardous Waste

3 June 2026 | 11:00 CET

Online Teams Event

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The 5th episode of the Hazards Out series of workshops will focus on Citizen Communication exploring practical examples of how local authorities, waste operators, retailers, researchers and other stakeholders can inform, motivate, and engage citizens to properly identify and dispose of HHW.

The event will present communication approaches, awareness-raising campaigns, and research insights aimed at improving citizen understanding and encouraging correct HHW sorting behaviour. You will have the chance to learn about:

Sorting instructions and citizen communication strategies through practical experience from the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events in Ireland;
A national awareness-raising campaign in Austria based on a take-back pilot project on lithium-ion batteries through gamification and citizen incentives;
Academic research on citizens’ perceptions and practices related to HHW separation, identifying key behavioural barriers and success factors for effective engagement.

The workshop will also feature the presentation of the Hazards Out Joint Declaration on the Effective Separate Collection and Management of Household Hazardous Waste, highlighting the initiative’s key recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders across Europe.

You will have the opportunity to engage with experienced professionals and participate in an open discussion on how to raise awareness and strengthen collaboration between municipalities, waste operators, industry, academia, and citizens for better understanding and management of HHW.

Join us on 03 June 2026, 11:00 CET for an engaging conversation on effective communication and citizen engagement strategies to improve the separate collection of household hazardous waste in Europe!

NOW!

📢 Speaker Agenda: Workshop 5

Citizen Communication on Household Hazardous Waste | 03.06.2026

Jean-Paul Judson — Founder and CEO, NOWMORE

11:00 - 11:10 CET

Welcome note & Hazards Out Joint Declaration on Separate Collection of HHW

Carol Sweetman — Senior Executive Scientist, Southern Regional Waste Management Planning Office, Ireland

11:10 - 11:25 CET

Coordination and citizen engagement for separate HHW Collection: Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events in Ireland

Stefanie Painsith — Senior Consultant, The Association of Austrian Waste Management Companies - VOEB, Austria

11:25 - 11:40 CET

National awareness-raising campaigns: Citizen incentivisation with BATTINCENTIVE pilot take-back campaign on lithium-ion batteries

Mário Ramos — Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon / MARE-ARNET, Portugal

11:40 - 11:55 CET

Key factors to improve HHW management: Academic research on Citizens’ perceptions and practices regarding the separation of HHW

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General Discussion

11:55 - 12:25 CET

Open floor for Q&A and stakeholder feedback

Jean-Paul Judson — NOWMORE

12:25 - 12:30 CET

Conclusions and Closing Remarks

NOW!

Meet the Speakers

EVENT MODERATOR: Jean-Paul Judson

Founder and CEO, NOWMORE

Jean-Paul holds a degree in Politics & Sociology from Royal Holloway University (London, UK) and a Masters in European Affairs from Sciences Po (Paris, France). After a career in public affairs where he worked in European regional policy, research & innovation, the agri-food sector and packaging, he became a professional moderator and founded NOWMORE in 2019.

Carol Sweetman

Senior Executive Scientist, SRWMPO, Ireland

Carol Sweetnam is a Senior Executive Scientist with the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices (Southern Region). The Regional Waste Management Planning Offices operate within the Irish local authority structure to coordinate strategic waste management planning, policy implementation, and regulatory support on a regional basis, working collaboratively across local authorities and with national stakeholders. Carol leads and manages key regional programmes, with a particular focus on the coordination of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Days across Ireland’s three waste management regions. She led the delivery of a pilot programme comprising four collection days in 2024, followed by the successful expansion to eleven collection days in 2025, and is currently coordinating the 2026 national programme. This role involves cross-regional coordination, procurement management, communication management and contractor oversight, and liaison with local authorities to ensure safe, compliant, and accessible household hazardous waste collection services. In addition, Carol acts as Historic Landfill Remediation Coordinator, addressing environmental and regulatory issues associated with historic landfill sites, with particular emphasis on unregulated and legacy sites. In this role, she supports local authorities in identifying risks, progressing required authorisations and remediation strategies, in line with regulatory requirements.

Stefanie Painsith

Senior Consultant, VOEB, Austria

Stefanie Painsith is a Senior Consultant with the Association of Austrian Waste Management Companies (VOEB). VOEB is a voluntary association representing commercially operated waste and resource management companies in Austria. The association currently represents over 260 member companies, accounting for two-thirds of Austria’s private waste management sector in terms of both revenue and number of employees. Stefanie is responsible for internal and external communications, oversees research projects in waste and resource management, and leads member focus groups on topics including batteries, WEEE & fire safety, HR and innovation. She holds a master’s degree in Polymer Science and Engineering from the Technical University of Leoben (Austria).

Mário Ramos