Resource Recovery Standards
Ten integrated standard series, from facility design and biogas upgrading to power generation, operations, and independent conformance assessment.
Standard Series
Comprehensive design requirements for anaerobic digestion and waste-to-energy facilities, covering process sizing, safety zoning, emissions control, and performance benchmarks for facilities from 500 m³ to 25,000 m³ capacity.
Standards for biogas upgrading, compression, and vehicle-grade fuel quality, defining methane purity thresholds, contaminant limits, and dispensing infrastructure requirements for renewable natural gas.
Technical guidance for wet and dry fermentation of food waste, market refuse, and green waste, covering feedstock preparation, hygienization, odor management, and digestate quality standards.
Standards for high-rate anaerobic treatment of distillery effluent, dairy waste, and industrial sludges, integrating energy recovery with effluent discharge compliance.
Framework for city-scale digestion of organic municipal waste and sewage sludge, addressing collection integration, public procurement, and fleet fuel supply chain standards.
End-to-end standards for compressed biogas production, storage, transport, and offtake, harmonizing feedstock quality, upgrading performance, and distribution safety requirements.
Performance benchmarks for biogas-to-electricity conversion, covering engine efficiency, grid synchronization, emissions monitoring, and renewable energy claim verification.
Standards for biogas cleaning and upgrading, defining H₂S removal, moisture control, siloxane treatment, and membrane upgrading performance criteria.
Best-practice standards for facility operations, preventive maintenance, spare parts management, and availability targets, supporting long-term reliable performance.
Integrated assessment framework covering design, construction, commissioning, and operations, providing a single conformance pathway for resource recovery and energy facilities.
Why Standards Matter
IWRREC standards deliver environmental integrity, market confidence, and regulatory alignment through a single integrated approach.
Internationally harmonized standards that enable cross-border comparison and regulatory alignment.
Protocols that prioritize methane capture, emissions reduction, and verified environmental performance.
Certification that signals quality to investors, regulators, and procurement bodies worldwide.
Standards ensuring digestate and recovered materials meet quality grades for productive reuse.
Guidance for converting waste into reliable local renewable energy and fuel supplies.
Competency frameworks that build skilled employment across the waste and energy value chain.
Sector Applications
Reference Programs
IWRREC-FC certified facility processing 300 TPD
A flagship reference program demonstrating Council standards for municipal food-waste-to-fuel conversion, producing vehicle-grade renewable gas for public transport fleets under a certified concession framework.
72% verified reduction in fossil fuel dependency
A distillery sector pilot validating IWRREC industrial recovery standards, demonstrating spent wash energy recovery with full environmental compliance and documented performance metrics.
4,200 farmers in certified supply network
A hub-and-spoke model certified under IWRREC agricultural waste standards, connecting village-scale digestion with central upgrading and transparent farmer payment protocols.
Global Impact
Every figure below represents progress toward a circular economy, waste diverted, energy enabled, professionals trained, and facilities certified worldwide.
Member Countries
Governments, institutions, and organizations across six continents
Member Organizations
Industry, academia, municipalities, and research institutes
Standards & Guidance Documents
Published technical standards, protocols, and best-practice guides
Certified Facilities
Sites assessed under IWRREC conformance and certification programs
Technical Committees
Expert working groups developing standards across waste and energy sectors
Get involved
Contact the Council for guidance on applicable standard series, certification pathways, and participation in ongoing standards development.
