Waste disposal and management facilities continue to rely on quick solutions instead of developing effective recycling and waste reduction programs. The issue is that facilities are reluctant or lack the means to adopt new technologies for reducing the toxicity and volume of waste or for enhancing recycling methods. (8)

In addition to the establishment of adequate waste management systems, innovative solutions need to be developed to provide individuals with incentives to properly dispose of their waste. However, reducing individual consumption is the first step to avoid the creation and accumulation of waste in the first place.

Humans have generated more waste than nature can cope with, and in some cases, this waste has completely disturbed entire ecosystems. The amount and type of waste produced vary across regions and countries. In 2018, worldwide, waste generated per person per day averages 0.74 kilograms but ranges widely, from 0.11 to 4.54 kilograms. (5) Places with higher levels of consumption produce more waste. For example, even though high-income countries only account for 16% of the world’s population, they generate about 34% (683 million tonnes) of the world’s waste. (5)

If not treated, transported, and managed safely, waste material can create severe issues for humans and their environment. (6) Many countries are rapidly developing without adequate waste management systems in place. Rapid urbanization, population growth, and economic development are expected to push global waste to increase by 70% over the next 30 years to a staggering 3.40 billion tonnes of waste per year. (7)

Waste is generally disposed of in landfills, recycling facilities, incinerators, and compost facilities. (6) Globally, most waste is currently dumped or disposed of in some form of landfill. In low-income countries, over 90% of waste is often disposed of in unregulated dumps or openly burned, and it is the poor and most vulnerable who are disproportionately affected by these practices (7). This is because it is the poorest populations who often live near waste dumps and drive cities’ recycling systems through waste-picking, which makes them highly susceptible to serious health risks. The unregulated nature of waste dumps and illegal ways of burning waste pose serious health, safety and environmental threats.

Most landfills lack proper on-site waste management, contributing to additional threats to the environment. In the long term, landfills leak and pollute groundwater and other neighboring environmental habitats. The laws and regulations guiding the operations of landfills are often relaxed at monitoring and regulating the different types of waste. (9) With weak laws for landfills and poor waste management systems, the landfills’ toxicity and hazardous nature significantly increase to a point where the landfill waste problem can have long-term effects.

Photo source: Degrees of Change

The most problematic type of waste created by humans is non-biological waste (synthetic, radioactive), which is not biodegradable. The environment is becoming more polluted as these waste materials accumulate in nature.

Greenhouse gases are also a very problematic type of waste, as they are a key contributor to climate change. Poorly managed waste is resulting in severe issues for both the environment and humans, including the contamination of the world’s oceans and soil, the loss of habitats and biodiversity, the transmission of diseases, and increasing respiratory problems. (7)

Photo source: Antoine GIRET/Unsplash

Waste disposal and management facilities continue to rely on quick solutions instead of developing effective recycling and waste reduction programs. The issue is that facilities are reluctant or lack the means to adopt new technologies for reducing the toxicity and volume of waste or for enhancing recycling methods. (8)

In addition to the establishment of adequate waste management systems, innovative solutions need to be developed to provide individuals with incentives to properly dispose of their waste. However, reducing individual consumption is the first step to avoid the creation and accumulation of waste in the first place.