Based on these needs, the International Waste Working Group (IWWG) was established in 2002. From the outset, the IWWG did not set out to contrast or to compete with existing professional organisations, but rather to serve as a forum whose main objective was to meet a world-wide demand for a new scientific platform geared towards the scientific and professional community in waste management. The IWWG is a non-profit organisation, founded by a group of waste professionals from both academic and private sectors.