About this Discussion

Every year, an estimated 11.2 billion tonnes of solid waste is collected worldwide and decay of the organic proportion of solid waste contributes about 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Poor waste management – ranging from non-existing collection systems to ineffective disposal – causes air pollution, water and soil contamination. Open and unsanitary landfills lead to contamination of drinking water and can cause infection and transmit diseases. 

The way a country manages its solid waste has significant long-term implications for public health, the economy and the environment. Therefore, it is essential to promote an environmentally sound solid waste treatment and disposal programme. Investing in greening the waste sector can generate multiple economic and environmental benefits. 

Greening the waste sector primarily involves the three “R’s” – reduce, reuse and recycle – with the long-term vision being to establish a circular economy in which the use of materials and subsequent waste is limited, most unavoidable waste is recycled or remanufactured, and any remaining waste is treated so as to minimize environmental damage or even create additional value through recovering energy embedded in material or products.

Upcoming Events

Waste Management

A post is already pinned to this stream. Would you like to replace it?
A post is already pinned to this stream. Would you like to replace it?
the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP)

Work Location: Remote Expected duration: 1 April 2022 - 15 June 2022 The objective of this assignment is to ensure that the implementation of the GEF ISLANDS Programme is informed by guidance on e-waste recycling activities, circular economy approaches and opportunities to improve e-… Read More

United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP)

Work Location: Remote Expected duration: 1 April 2022 to 15 June 2022 (2.5 months) The objective of this assignment is to ensure that the execution of the GEF ISLANDS Programme is informed by guidance on existing best practice on end-of-life vehicle management, circular economy… Read More

United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP)

Work Location: Remote Expected duration: 1 April 2022 - 15 June 2022 Thirty (30) days of work over a 2.5 month period The objective of this assignment is to ensure that the execution of the GEF ISLANDS Programme is informed by guidance on existing used oil management activities,… Read More

Thank you Ana Gabriela Fernandez Vergara for sharing this recently published resource on health care waste management, which has become one of the most critical areas during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read More

https://thegreenforum.org/post/unep-collaboration-iges-have-developed-assessment-health-care-waste-m...
Asia LEDS Partnership, ICLEI

How can cities develop bankable projects – which are socially and environmentally sustainable as well? Join our public webinar to find out! In this session, participants will be introduced to the City Climate Finance Gap Fund and other opportunities on prioritization and structuring of… Read More

Stephani Widorini commented on Laxmi Haigh's Post in Circular Economy, Climate Change, Waste Management

'The circular economy holds massive climate mitigation potential.'

This year's anniversary edition of the Circularity Gap Report—Circle Economy's annual assessment of how circular the world is and where we are headed—looks back at five years of analysis and learnings to highlight key messages worth repeating:
70% of greenhouse gas emissions are related to the way we produce and use products.

If applied globally and combined with current national climate pledges, circular solutions could deliver significant emissions reductions.

In the last few years since the Paris Agreement, we consumed more than half a trillion tonnes of virgin materials and the Circularity Gap got worse, not better.

On our way to net zero and to a more circular world, we must not forget about people.

Our response to the climate emergency must reduce global and local inequalities and protect against overshooting the means of the planet.

Explore the full report: https://lnkd.in/dBw7Q9Wx

Read More

https://lnkd.in/dBw7Q9Wx

Chemical pollution has passed safe limit for humanity.

The cocktail of chemical pollution that pervades the planet now threatens the stability of global ecosystems upon which humanity depends.

The chemical pollution planetary boundary is the fifth of nine that scientists say have been crossed, with the others being global heating, the destruction of wild habitats, loss of biodiversity and excessive nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.

We must act now to revert this trend.

Read More

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/18/chemical-pollution-has-passed-safe-limit-for-hum...

Do you know those measures that are - comparatively - easy both for people and government to implement? When it comes to climate change they rare, I know, but they do exist!

Tackling food waste through home-composting to lower GHG emissions is one of those.

Happy to see that from January, most people in California will be required to toss excess food into green waste bins rather than the trash. Municipalities will then turn the food waste into compost or use it to create biogas.

The effort is designed to keep landfills in the most populous U.S. state clear of food waste that damages the atmosphere as it decays.

Read More

https://apnews.com/article/california-makes-food-waste-recycling-mandatory-ac4340dc4d0b6d74e186b22c1...

The contribution of plastic waste and the plastics industry to climate change is often less known or worse, disregarded.

The impacts of mismanaged plastic waste on the climate, as well as on livelihoods and ecosystems, are an urgent development challenge.

Read More

https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/6-reasons-blame-plastic-pollution-climate-change
International Trade Centre(ITC)

The Youth Ecopreneur Awards – celebrate with us young entrepreneurs working on innovative solutions for a better, greener planet who will pitch their green ventures as part of the final stage of the Awards. Hailing from 8 different countries, join us to support these ecopreneurs! Read More