Gatze Lettinga is awarded the 2007 Tyler prize for environmental achievement!!!

(photograph: Hans Dijkstra, bvBeeld)

Dr. Gatze Lettinga from The Netherlands will be in Los Angeles on April 19-20th to receive the 2007 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement for his career-long contribution to the development of high-rate, low-cost and environmentally-sound anaerobic (pre-)treatment technologies that are now widely applied around the world as a solution towards industrial and municipal wastewater treatment.

His signature contribution was the development of the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor concept which has become popular due to its technical simplicity. The UASB and other high rate anaerobic processes provide an environmentally sustainable alternative to wastewater treatment because they convert organic pollution into a useful energy source, methane (biogas) and conserve inorganic nutrients for reuse as fertilizers. This is a welcome complement to conventional aerobic activated sludge processes, as it allows extensive pre-treatment to save the high inputs of energy for aeration and reduce large quantities of waste excess sludge, while extending existing treatment capacities.

Throughout his career, Dr. Lettinga has been promoting anaerobic technology as a key component of sustainable environmental technology. His enthusiasm, inspiration and international collaborations have helped to establish anaerobic technology around the globe including its application as the core technology for dilute municipal wastewater in a growing number of countries (Brazil, Colombia, and India among others).

A special workshop is organized adjacent to the official awarding event on April 20th in Los Angeles, USA. The workshop is titled "Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment as a High Rate, Low Cost and Environmentally Sound Alternative". The goal of the workshop is to share with stakeholders, the potentials of implementing modern high-rate anaerobic treatment systems in integrated settings for applications in the USA and abroad.

Download the official press release by the Tyler Prize - click here.