Center for Solid Waste Research

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About the Center

 

Global experience has unequivocally demonstrated that without proper waste management—entailing the scientifically and technically sound conversion of wastes into less hazardous substances, or their principled and appropriate disposal—such materials will inevitably become sources of substantial risk and multifaceted threats.
Addressing this challenge necessitates studies that are knowledge-driven, innovative, and capable of expanding the frontiers of science, while simultaneously ensuring adequate integration across various relevant disciplines. The completion of the academic research cycle, building upon existing university-based investigations and experiential knowledge, can significantly facilitate the localization and commercialization of research findings. This process should be carried out with a particular focus on meeting the operational needs of both governmental executive institutions and civil society organizations.
In line with this objective, the Center for Solid Waste Research was established. The center received its initial letter of approval from the Ministry of Health in 2010, followed by final definitive approval in 2014. By fostering effective communication and constructive interaction with influential executive agencies, the Center is well-positioned to make a substantial contribution to the scientific enhancement and overall improvement of the national waste management system—with special emphasis on the management of hospital waste and that of affiliated healthcare facilities.

 

Research Focus Area

 

  • Situational analysis of municipal, medical, agricultural and industrial waste management
  • Feasibility analysis of waste reduction scenarios
  • Feasibility analysis of source separation scenarios
  • Performance evaluation of waste-to-energy technologies
  • Exploratory feasibility of novel/advanced waste management technologies
  • Health-related risk/impact assessments of waste recovery and reus

 

Expertise, Facilities & Research Services

 

  • Consultancy and technical advisory for waste management planning
  • Feasibility and techno-economic studies
  • Technology assessment, localization, and performance evaluation
  • Training and capacity-building programs for researchers and practitioners
  • Collaborative national and international research partnerships
  • Joint laboratory facilities for waste characterization, analysis, and applied research in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Collaboration Opportunities

 

  • Conducting high-quality research and disseminating its findings to inform policymakers, researchers, industry stakeholders, and the broader community.
  • Providing evidence-based solutions to waste-related challenges and their health implications, along with systematic evaluation of their implementation.
  • Supplying the requisite scientific evidence and actively contributing to the reinforcement and consolidation of national health system policies concerning waste management and its related domains.
  • Fostering the development of a skilled research workforce specialized in waste management.
  • Pursuing state-of-the-art scientific and technological advancements in waste management, and ensuring their contextualized assessment, localization, and practical application.
  • Expanding intersectoral, regional, and international collaborations with relevant stakeholder organizations and institutions, in pursuit of shared objectives.

 

Director & Key Researchers

 

Dr. Mohammadhadi Dehghani Tafti (Director)

  • Professor of Environmental Health Engineering, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Center for Solid Waste Research, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
  • https://isid.research.ac.ir/Mohammadhadi_DehghaniTafti

Dr. Fatemeh Momeniha

  • Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Engineering, Center for Solid Waste Research, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
  • https://isid.research.ac.ir/Fatemeh_Momeniha

Dr. Mina Aghaei

  • Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Engineering
  • Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health
  • Tehran University of Medical Sciences
  • https://isid.research.ac.ir/Mina_Aghaei2

 

Selected Achievements

 

  • Publication of more than 670 scientific papers in reputable national and international peer-reviewed journals
  • Publication of more than 40 international books and books chapters in the fields of waste and wastewater management
  • Securing external research funding through industry collaboration projects
  • Training of 2 PhD-by-Research students in center
  • Prof. Mohammad Hadi Dehghani, Head of the Center, was recognized as an Outstanding Researcher of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) in 2025
  • Recognized as an International Highly Cited Researcher, Prof. Dehghani is one of only three researchers at TUMS to have achieved this distinction.
  • Named among the World’s Top 2% Scientists in the 2025 Stanford University ranking.
  • Ranked among the top 1% most highly cited researchers worldwide according to Essential Science Indicators (ESI).
  • Dr. Fatemeh Momeniha, faculty member of the Center, was also recognized among the top 1% most highly cited researchers worldwide by ESI (July 2025).

 

Why Collaborate with Us?

 

  • Ministry of Health and Medical Education Collaborating Centre.
  • Strong translational research capacity
  • Organizing specialized training courses, capacity-building workshops, scientific meetings

 

Contact Information

 

  • Official Name: Center for Solid Waste Research
  • Postal Address: Tehran, end of Keshavarz Boulevard, Dr. Gharib Street, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Reyhaneh Building, 2nd floor
  • Phone number: +98 21 66581702
  • Postal Code: 1417613151
  • Email: cswr@tums.ac.ir
  • Website: https://cswr.tums.ac.ir/
Last Update At : 08 September 2026