EREF has established three key research priorities. The decision comes in response to the urgent need for innovative solutions and a deeper understanding of these pressing environmental challenges. The three selected areas represent some of the most significant issues affecting resource management and the environment today. This decision places EREF’s strategic direction at the intersection of sustainability and circularity.
As data on these priorities continue to expand, more resources will be available. Click below to see EREF’s body of work on the selected topics, and view all of our reports here.
EREF has identified 3 key Priorities
Climate Change Impacts/GHG Emissions
Emerging Contaminants
Advancing Materials Circularity & Recycling
Climate Change Impacts/Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Quantification of greenhouse gas emissions, including direct measurement, modeling, data & methodology
- Impacts & reduction strategies from materials management collection & disposal options
- Impact of materials management activities, including how they related to broader emissions in manufacturing/re-manufacturing
Emerging Contaminants
- Potential impacts of emerging contaminants on materials management operations including leachate disposal/treatment, composting facility operations, anaerobic digestion facilities and digestate management
- Fate and transport/environmental and health impacts from emerging contaminants, including those managed by materials facilities
- Best practices/effective management strategies during materials collection and disposal
Advancing Materials Circularity & Recycling
- Evaluation/efficacy of policies that impact materials management or circularity
- Assessment of trade-offs between environmental burdens associated with circular priorities
- Understanding barriers/benefits experienced across the value chain