(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Inadequate waste management has become a major public health, economic and environmental problem, with 7-10bn tonnes of urban waste produced each year and three billion people worldwide lacking access to controlled waste disposal facilities.
Fuelled by population growth, urbanisation and rising consumption, the volumes of waste are likely to even double in lower-income African and Asian cities by 2030, warns the Global Waste Management Outlook € launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA).
UNEP executive director Achim Steiner recently stated that an urgent response to the world's mounting waste problem is not only a public health and environmental necessity, but also a sound economic investment. Inaction is costing countries 5-10 times more than investments in proper waste management. A greater commitment by nations to systematically apply the 3 R's € Reduce, Reuse, Recycle € can transform the problem of waste into a resource for the economies.
The global waste management goals proposed by this report have the potential to result in dramatic reductions in greenhouse gases, the creation of millions of green jobs and economic benefits in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Achieving them would also be taking massive strides toward realising the Sustainable Development Goals.
The report offers an integrated global solution to the waste problem, including calling for immediate improvement of waste collection and disposal, preventing waste and maximising reuse and recycling of resources. It also calls for a major shift away from the linear "take-make-use-waste" economy and towards the circular "reduce-reuse-recycle" approach to the lifecycle of materials.
As pointed out by ISWA president David Newman the Global Waste Management Outlook will help the waste management industry define its future over the next decade, and it also is an urgent call for action for investments to drive a global clean-up of the billions of tons of waste still dumped into the environment.
Dr Oyun Sanjaasuren, president of the United Nations Environment Assembly observed that despite the availability of technological capacity to solve the global waste problem, a staggering 3bn people worldwide lack access to controlled waste disposal, with the result that waste litters our streets with grave environmental and health consequences.
This situation can be changed only if countries enforce proactive policies and sound institutions that encourage waste minimisation and recycling. Major producers should also be more involved in managing the entire lifecycle of their products. International co-operation will be vital in preventing developing countries from becoming dumping ground for hazardous materials.
The report encourages a shift in thinking about waste as merely a health and environmental threat, towards a broader concept of resource management. It demonstrates how wisely managing both resources and waste, countries can cut costs of waste disposal and bring additional profit from the recovered raw materials.
For example, the Belgian region of Flanders achieved the highest waste diversion rate in Europe, growing from nearly zero in the 1980s to over 70% in 2013. This was possible with a smart mix of social, fiscal and legal policies, such as waste prevention education, establishing reuse centres and a "pay-as-you-throw" taxation system based on the "polluter pays" principle.
The inclusion of informal recyclers into the municipal waste management system in Bolivia resulted in the collection and treatment of 29,000 tonnes of waste and the creation of 443 green jobs. There is scope for similar initiatives across the world.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.