Publication Ethics

Publishing an article in the Waste Treatment and Environmental Remediation (WTER) Journal, a peer-reviewed publication, is a fundamental step in developing a well-structured and recognized body of knowledge. It reflects the quality of the authors' work and the institutions supporting them. Peer-reviewed articles uphold and exemplify the scientific method. Therefore, it is crucial to establish standards of ethical behavior for all participants involved in the publishing process: authors, editors, reviewers, publishers, and the academic community.

Global SciTech Publishing, as the publisher of this journal, takes its role in overseeing all stages of publication seriously and adheres to the highest ethical standards. We are committed to ensuring that commercial activities, such as advertising or reprint sales, do not influence editorial decisions. Additionally, the Editorial Board of WTER facilitates communication with other journals and publishers when necessary.

 

Publication Decisions

The Editor-in-Chief of WTER is responsible for deciding which articles are suitable for publication. This decision is guided by recommendations from the editorial board and peer reviewers. The journal adheres to legal requirements concerning defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. Decisions are made in consultation with the editorial team and reviewers.

 

Non-Discrimination

Editors and reviewers assess manuscripts solely based on their intellectual content, without regard to the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnicity, citizenship, or political views.

 

Confidentiality

Editors, reviewers, and editorial staff are required to maintain confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts. Information about a manuscript must not be shared with anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, editorial board members, and the publisher, as appropriate.

 

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in any reviewer’s or editor’s research without the author's explicit written consent.

 

Duties of Reviewers

Contribution to Editorial Decisions

The journal employs a single-blind peer review process, where reviewers provide recommendations to the Editor-in-Chief to support editorial decisions. Reviewers may also assist authors in enhancing the quality of their papers through constructive feedback.

 

Timeliness
Editors are committed to ensuring timely reviews. If a reviewer is unable to submit their report within the specified timeframe, the manuscript will be reassigned to another qualified reviewer.

 

Confidentiality
Manuscripts under review are treated with strict confidentiality. Reviewers are prohibited from discussing or sharing any details of the manuscript, except with the Editor-in-Chief.

 

Objectivity Standards

Reviewers are required to evaluate manuscripts based solely on their content and provide respectful, constructive feedback. Recommendations must be supported by clear justifications.

 

Acknowledgment of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant work that has not been cited by the authors and notify the editor of any significant overlap or similarities with other published work.

 

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

Confidential information obtained during the peer review process must not be used for personal advantage. Reviewers should decline to review manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist due to competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors, companies, or institutions involved.

 

Duties of Authors

Reporting Standards

Authors must present an accurate and objective account of their work, with sufficient detail to allow replication. Fraudulent or inaccurate statements are unethical and unacceptable.

 

Data Access and Retention

Authors may be asked to provide raw data for editorial review and must be ready to supply such data upon request.

 

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure their submissions are original. If other works or statements are used, proper citations must be provided. Submissions containing plagiarism will be rejected.

 

Multiple or Redundant Publication

Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously is considered unethical and is strictly prohibited.

 

Acknowledgment of Sources

Proper acknowledgment of other works that influenced the research must be provided.

 

Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be limited to those who have made significant contributions to the study. The corresponding author must keep all co-authors informed of the submission and review process. Upon acceptance, all authors must confirm that the manuscript represents their original work.

 

Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects

If the research involves hazardous materials, procedures, or equipment, these must be clearly identified in the manuscript.

 

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Authors should disclose any financial or other potential conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of their findings. All sources of financial support must be acknowledged.

 

Corrections to Published Work

If an author identifies a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they must promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate in retracting or correcting the paper.