Robert (Robin) Szmidt

I am a technical specialist in waste, renewable energy & organics with vetted Expert Witness experience gained over a number of years.

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

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.

Services:

Assessments related to organic materials, bio-wastes and waste-derived renewable energy.
Odour, 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).
Protected crop and in-building systems and controls (mechanical, electrical and lighting).

The above include civil and criminal cases, including high-court and overseas. Tasks have included:

Site visits and evidential witness
Detailed analysis of data and written evidence
Detailed analysis of printed and digital evidence including images and video footage
Report preparation
Team-review participation
Briefing of legal teams at all levels
Court attendance up to and including High Court.

In some cases settlement was achieved before coming to court.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE:

I have been involved in a number of international projects giving me unrivalled first-hand experience of my field. These include:

EUROPE : Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland & Scandinavia
NORTH AMERICA : USA and Canada
ELSEWHERE: Hong Kong & PR China, Middle East including Oman, Israel and the Palestinian Territories (Gaza and West Bank)

Projects span systems and use of materials derived from natural resources, source segregated wastes, unsegregated and Mechanical-Biological treatment (MBT) waste technologies. In most situations tasks are complex and relate to integrated engineering, renewable and recovered energy, not just use, recovery or disposal.
Agriculture
Agricultural pollution
Agricultural waste
Anaerobic Digestion
Biogas
Biomethane
Combined heat and power
Compost
Composting
Digestate
Drug plant cultivation
Emissions
Fertiliser
Fertilizer
Greenhouse
Greenhouse crops
Greenhouse systems
Horticulture
Horticultural production systems
Hydroponic
Hydroponics
In-vessel composting
Mushrooms
Odour
Organic
Pollution
Recycling
Recyclate
Recycling minerals
Renewable energy
Rockdust
Waste
Waste export
Waste management
Waste regulation

Available Globally Contact:

Scaur O'Doon House,
25 Scaur O'Doon Rd
Ayr, South Ayrshire,
KA7 4EP
UK

Phone: +44 (0) 1292 440000 or Mobile (cell) +44 (0) 7952748549
Email: r.szmidt@targetrenewables.com
Web: http://www.targetrenewables.com