It is estimated that 40-45% of the world’s municipal solid waste is either not collected or managed in facilities that are non compliant with Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of waste.

The mismanagement of organic waste triggers methane emissions, which are seen as a priority aera for action since COP 27. Indeed GHG emissions reduction targets are typically measured in CO₂ equivalent over a 100-year period. Methane lives in the atmosphere for around 12 years, so in this shorter periods of time, its actual global warming potential is much higher than the one used for the 100-year periods CO₂ equivalent calculations. According to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), methane is 84 times stronger than CO₂ over 20 years, compared to 28 when considering 100 years. This basically means that current methane emissions are three times worse for climate change in the short term, and that taking action now to reduce them would be three times more effective to reduce global warming.

Poor management of carbon-rich waste (hydrocarbons, vegetable oils, plastics) due to partial combustion contributes to black carbon emissions. Curbing these will have an immediate effect on reducing the greenhouse effect, as they are short-lived pollutants rapidly washed out of the atmosphere. Taking action now is strategic to curb global warming as longer term strategies to reduce other GHGs are struggling to be implemented.

Reducing waste volumes means reducing the unnecessary production of goods, limiting it to what is strictly necessary, as these goods require energy and resources – and therefore produce significant GHG emissions, when transformed into final products. This is a long term change that requires the action of all industrial players and governments. Waste sector professionals’ advocacy contributes to inspire that change.

Enhancing circular economy

Enhancing circular economy is a means to conserve resources so that they can be used several times for various usages after their extraction (primarily as raw materials or, if not feasible, in the form of energy). Beyond being necessary to address planetary boundaries, circular economy can be, and must be designed to also reduce GHG emissions when producing needed goods.
Waste sector professionals’ role is to support all economic sectors by contribute to eco-design and supplying low-carbon raw materials and energy Waste sector professionals inform production processes that facilitate low carbon recycling and resources recovery.

Thus, commitments from UN member states on the issue of waste are needed to make a significant contribution to reducing global warming.