Assessments related to organic materials, bio-wastes and waste-derived renewable energy.
Odor, emissions and pollution from organic waste sites.
Waste types, material recycling and regulatory compliance.
Export of inappropriate wastes and recyclate.
Production of illegal substances (drugs) using a range of growing media (composts and hydroponics).
As founder of the UK company Target Renewables Ltd I link to a range of specialized associates in my field.
I am a technical specialist in waste, renewable energy & organics with vetted Expert Witness experience gained over a number of years. I'm based in Scotland (UK) but work globally in my specialist area, particularly across Europe and North America.
Current status:
Founder and Director of Target Renewables Ltd specializing in large-scale anaerobic digestion and compost project development (private- and public-sector projects) for the organics recycling and renewable energy sector.
I'm a UK citizen living in Scotland (UK). My mother was born in Cleveland (OH) and my father in Poland.
I originally trained as a biologist / horticultural scientist, graduating from Wye College (University of London) in 1978 before gaining my PhD in compost biology from Stirling University. Described as "a renowned specialist working in the field of waste and resource-use" I specialise in materials-use including energy and recycling. This is unavoidably linked to technical systems and through my career I have worked closely with, and been part of, engineering teams working in these areas. Projects span sustainable resource use and renewable energy, environmental protection, the interface with societal wastes, system design, operation and business development.
After my postgraduate time at Stirling, from 1982 I worked initially for The UK Ministry of Agriculture (ADAS) in England prior to becoming Head of Department for horticultural protected crops research at the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC). In this role I was ultimately responsible for management of a multi-disciplinary team providing :
* Specialist research and technical development in organics and recycling systems (e.g. composting and recovered minerals)
* Industrial-scale glasshouse research with particular emphasis on energy and hydroponic systems
* Public-sector technical advice
* A bespoke industrial-scale micropropagation facility serving the UK soft-fruit industry through commercial R&D
This period included project work with colleagues (now long-term friends & associates) in the US including USDA at Beltsville (MD) and Kennedy Space Center. I am a regular participant in US Biocycle events and have contributed various written articles.
I subsequently worked in commerce through a spin-out business from the 'academic' hub and then moved 100% to the private sector. This included large-scale continental (German and Swiss) technologies provided by substantial engineering firms. These were waste-management systems to generate, renewable energy and fertiliser (compost & digestate) production, particularly through anaerobic digestion. - See more of my UK connections at:
http://witnessdirectory.com/robert(robin)akszmidt#sthash.AK938DYu.dpuf
and the company at www.targetrenewables.com
