David Lerpiniere

David Lerpiniere

Profile

I have twenty five years experience in the sustainability sector, with a particuarly focus on waste management, the circular economy and plastics polution issues. I use my knowledge and research to assist international institutions, central and local government and the private sector to tackle major environmental challenges. I have successfully delivered a wide range of complex projects in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South America, North America and Asia. I have also co-authored a number of global studies on the issue of waste: including Bridging the Gap in Solid Waste Management for the World Bank; Improving Markets for Recycled Plastics for the OECD;  and a Toolkit for Developing an Inventory of Plastic Waste Using the Material Flow Analysis Methodology for the United Nations Basel, Rotterdam and Stockhold Conventions Secretariat.

Prior to joining University of Leeds as a Research Fellow, I held a number of senior roles in the technical consulting sector. Over my career to-date, I have successfully developed technical consulting and research teams and mentored colleagues to deliver positive impact by improving waste management and enabling the transition to a circular economy.    

I am a proactive contributor to knowledge on the issues of waste, circular economy and plastics pollution, and regularly speaks at conferences and events. I am a member of the International Solid Waste Association’s Waste and Climate Change Working Group,and was a member of ISWA’s Marine Litter Task Force (2018-2021). I was also Chair of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management South West Regional Centre (2021-23). 

Research interests

I am a part-time Research Fellow and PhD candiate in the Plastics Pollution Research Group in Faculty of Enginerring at the University of Leeds. My key interests include understanding how technical assistance, policy development and development finance can be used to improve waste management and tackle plastics pollution, particularly in low and middle income country contexts. I have a keen interest in using data to understand challenges and provide an evidence base for effective policy-making at national and international levels. I have co-authored a number of publications on behalf of organisations such as the World Bank and OECD. The approaches I and colleagues have developed for understanding plastic polluton and waste management issues have been piloted and applied in a number of countries around the world.  

<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

  • BA (Hons) Earth Sciences, University of Oxford
  • MSc Environmental Management, Imperial College (External Programme)

Professional memberships

  • Fellow of the Schumacher Institute (2015)
  • Chartered Environmentalist (2004)
  • Chartered Wastes Manager (2004)