1 - Waste and resource management at the heart of sustainable development
The key messages below are based on existing SDGs 8, 9, 11, and 12. We propose to supplement these goals to strengthen the consideration of waste and resource management as an essential element of sustainable development.
The messages refer to Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of waste, as defined by the Basel Convention Article 2. The ESM frameworks developed by the Basel Convention provide guidance on technical measures which are ESM compliant.
It’s essential to keep our messages to 3 to 5 concise points, so that we can take them effectively to the highest political level.
Waste management at the heart of sustainable development
Acknowledging that waste generation and its management are impacting the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity, pollution and climate, the following targets should be established:
1- Eco-design and new economic models to reduce waste generation:
- Apply standards, such as ISO 59004*, to transform the production and consumption patterns based on the 9-R
- Enable new economic models based on resource circularity.
2- Waste management strategies integrated in master planning , including :
- product circularity models to extend their lifespan (reuse, repair, restoration, remanufacture, repurposing),
- end-of-use collection,
- ESM of waste treatment infrastructures and the necessary networks such as roads, energy, water, industrial users of recovered materials and energy.
… acknowledging the constraints in existing cities and the opportunities in cities to be developed3- Just transition:
- improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable
- provide decent jobs,
- comply with ESM practices,
- ensure economic viability.
4- Transparency and traceability:
- establish full traceability of products and chemicals lifecycle, including waste management destinations and modalities, whether ESM or not,
- this includes promoting digital tools, enhancing reporting mechanisms, and building institutional capacity as foreseen under Basel Convention obligations.
5- The journey to improve waste management systems is about improving from basic to circular waste management systems :
- establish ESM compliant final disposal systems as the priority for protecting health and the environment,
- raise the ambition towards circularity: prevent waste generation and reduce the use of final disposal systems by implementing ESM compliant recycling and recovery processes.
*the ISO Norm 59004adopted in June 2024 is the formal implementation of the scientific concept of the 9R developped by Julian Kirschherr et.al. in 2017, which had inspired the ISWA handbook
