Standards Development
Eight stages from scope to published international standard
Follow the transparent, consensus-based process through which IWRREC develops and maintains standards for waste, recovery, and renewable energy.
Technical committees
Standards published
Member countries
Standard review cycle
The Development Process
Step by step, standard by standard
Each stage below represents a phase in IWRREC's standards development lifecycle, designed for transparency, stakeholder input, and technical rigor.
- 1
Scope Definition
Technical committees identify the need for a new or revised standard, defining scope, objectives, stakeholder requirements, and alignment with existing Council guidance and international frameworks.
- Clear problem statement
- Stakeholder mapping
- Alignment with global frameworks
- 2
Committee Formation
Balanced working groups are assembled with representation from operators, researchers, regulators, technology providers, and end users to ensure diverse expertise and fair consensus.
- Balanced expert representation
- Geographic diversity
- Sector-specific knowledge
- 3
Draft Development
Committee members prepare draft standards incorporating current research, field data, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices, with documented rationale for each requirement.
- Evidence-based requirements
- Documented technical rationale
- Peer review within committee
- 4
Public Comment
Draft standards are published for public review, inviting comments from members, non-members, regulators, and the broader community during a defined comment period.
- Transparent review process
- Broad stakeholder input
- Documented response to comments
- 5
Revision & Ballot
Comments are evaluated, drafts revised, and final versions submitted for formal committee ballot, requiring consensus approval before proceeding to publication.
- Structured revision process
- Formal consensus voting
- Minority opinion documentation
- 6
Publication
Approved standards are published in the IWRREC standards library with version control, effective dates, and transition guidance for facilities pursuing conformance.
- Version-controlled publication
- Clear effective dates
- Transition guidance for adopters
- 7
Implementation Support
Training courses, implementation guides, and technical advisory resources help organizations adopt new standards, with pre-assessment tools for certification readiness.
- Implementation guides
- Training and webinars
- Certification readiness tools
- 8
Review & Maintenance
Published standards undergo periodic review, typically every five years, or earlier when significant technology, regulatory, or market changes warrant revision.
- Scheduled five-year review
- Continuous improvement cycle
- Amendment and errata process
Get involved
Want to participate in standards development?
IWRREC members can join technical committees, comment on draft standards, and shape the guidance that drives global waste and energy practice.