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Waste Management
Specialisation (formal)Year: 2026
Waste Management
Overview
Waste Management is offered as a major field of study in the Master of Environment degree.
Waste is more than just what people throw in the bin. There are air-borne emissions, liquid wastes that impact on water supplies as well as the complex waste streams produced by industry that can have toxic impacts on the environment.
Waste Management is concerned with the management of various waste streams. We study waste avoidance and minimisation, best environmental practice and provide the tools for sound decision making at the design and implementation phases of waste management projects.
By studying Waste Management, you'll develop theoretical and practical skills for working in environmental control authorities, industry and elsewhere. If you are a student with an undergraduate degree in another discipline, gain investigative and management skills as part of an engineering education.
You can expect to find employment in environmental control authorities, urban and industrial workplaces, local government, education, or as a consultant.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Waste Management specialisation, students will be able to:
- Analyse various waste streams and identify opportunities for waste avoidance and minimisation
- Design and implement strategies for waste management
- Integrate knowledge and collaborate across disciplines and sectors to ensure the effectiveness of waste management projects
Last updated: 15 March 2026
Structure
200 credit points
Students will be required to complete the two core subjects, plus choose three subjects from the specialisation subject list.
Students in the 200 point pathway must take at least 12.5 points of subjects from the compulsory capstone subjects – these subjects enable students to complete an independent project in the area of waste management. Students in the 100 point pathway will not normally be required to complete this component.
Students must also undertake electives to make up the balance of the award. The selection of electives is made in consultation with the Waste Management specialisation coordinator.
Core Subjects
Students must complete the following core subjects:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| MULT90004 | Environmental Sustainability |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
July (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| MULT90005 | Partnerships for Sustainable Futures | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Specialisation Subjects
Students must complete at least three of the following specialisation subjects:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENEN90005 | Environmental Management ISO 14000 | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENEN90006 | Solid Wastes to Sustainable Resources | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENEN90029 | Water and Waste Water Management | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENEN90031 | Quantitative Environmental Modelling | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENEN90032 | Environmental Analysis Tools | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Compulsory Capstone Experience
Students must complete at least 12.5 points from the following compulsory capstone subjects - please note that if you select either a 25 or 50 point research project that spreads across two semesters you must enrol into the Part 1 and Part 2 subjects over consecutive semesters. Students completing the 100 point pathway will normally be exempt from this requirement.
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENST90006 | Environmental Research Review (12.5) |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| ENST90007 | Environmental Research Project (25) |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
| ENST90016 | Environmental Research Project (50) |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
50 |
| ENST90025 | Environmental Industry Research (25) |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
| ENST90020 | Environmental Industry Research (50) |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
50 |
| NRMT90003 | Social Research Methods | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| GEOG90022 | International Internship in Environment |
Summer Term (Off Campus)
Semester 1 (Off Campus)
Semester 2 (Off Campus)
|
25 |
| AGRI90076 | Industry Internship |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| ENST90035 | Environmental Research Project - 25 Pt1 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| ENST90036 | Environmental Research Project - 25 Pt2 |
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| ENST90037 | Environmental Research Project - 50 Pt1 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
| ENST90038 | Environmental Research Project - 50 Pt2 |
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
| ENST90039 | Environmental Industry Research - 25 Pt1 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| ENST90040 | Environmental Industry Research - 25 Pt2 |
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| ENST90041 | Environmental Industry Research - 50 Pt1 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
| ENST90042 | Environmental Industry Research - 50 Pt2 |
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
| SCIE90017 | Science and Technology Internship |
Summer Term (Off Campus)
Semester 1 (Off Campus)
Semester 2 (Off Campus)
|
12.5 |
Elective Subjects
Students should make up the balance of the award with electives. Subjects in the list below are recommended. Other subjects may be taken with the approval of specialisation coordinator.
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM90007 | Environmental Chemistry | Not available in 2026 | 12.5 |
| ECON90016 | Environmental Economics and Strategy | Not available in 2026 | 12.5 |
| ENEN90028 | Monitoring Environmental Impacts | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENST90002 | Social Impact Assessment and Evaluation | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| EVSC90014 | Environmental Risk Assessment | Winter Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| EVSC90015 | Environmental Impact Assessment | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| FRST90034 | Ecological Restoration | August (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| GEOL90005 | Hydrogeology/Environmental Geochemistry | February (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70068 | Environmental Law | June (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| MAST90007 | Statistics for Research Workers | Winter Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| POPH90014 | Epidemiology 1 |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (Online)
Semester 2 (Online)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| EVSC90025 | Water Sensitive Urban Design | February (On Campus - Burnley) |
12.5 |
| GEOG90020 | Participatory Risk Management | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| MGMT90031 | Project Management |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| POPH90230 | Planetary and Global Health |
July (On Campus - Parkville)
July (Online)
|
12.5 |
| ENST90032 | Sustainability and Behaviour Change |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| ENEN90005 | Environmental Management ISO 14000 | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENEN90006 | Solid Wastes to Sustainable Resources | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENEN90029 | Water and Waste Water Management | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENEN90031 | Quantitative Environmental Modelling | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENEN90032 | Environmental Analysis Tools | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENST90006 | Environmental Research Review (12.5) |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| ENST90007 | Environmental Research Project (25) |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
| ENST90016 | Environmental Research Project (50) |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
50 |
| ENST90020 | Environmental Industry Research (50) |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
50 |
| ENST90025 | Environmental Industry Research (25) |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
| NRMT90003 | Social Research Methods | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| DEVT90002 | Internship in Development |
Semester 1 (Off Campus)
Semester 2 (Off Campus)
|
12.5 |
| GEOG90022 | International Internship in Environment |
Summer Term (Off Campus)
Semester 1 (Off Campus)
Semester 2 (Off Campus)
|
25 |
| AGRI90076 | Industry Internship |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| LING90002 | Academic English for Graduate Studies |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| SCIE90017 | Science and Technology Internship |
Summer Term (Off Campus)
Semester 1 (Off Campus)
Semester 2 (Off Campus)
|
12.5 |
| ENEN90006 | Solid Wastes to Sustainable Resources | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENEN90029 | Water and Waste Water Management | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENEN90031 | Quantitative Environmental Modelling | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENEN90032 | Environmental Analysis Tools | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| DEVT90042 | Fieldwork in Complex and Hostile Places | No longer available | |
| ABPL90315 | Participatory Planning | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENST90045 | Spatial Tools for Ecosystem Management | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| MKTG90049 | Marketing, Society and Sustainability | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENST90044 | Analysing Ecosystems and Their Values | Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Last updated: 15 March 2026