There are no waste-specific SDG

SDG 11 cites them, entrusting this issue to local authorities. ODD 12 integrates them under the angle of responsible production and recycling. Thus, the issue of waste is explicit in the 2030 Agenda through 2 perspectives :

• That of our capacity to reduce our needs, to reduce waste and to produce raw materials from recycling (SDG 12), but without going so far as to question the structure of the economy itself, for which action by governments is necessary for the transition to a sober and circular economy;
• That of the impact on cities and communities (SDG 11) of inadequate waste collection and treatment, responsible for pollution (of air, water and soil) and blockages in urban drainage, increasing the risk of flooding and disease transmission, but without these risks being explicitly mentioned.

The issue of waste is central to achieving the SDGs

• The goal of providing clean drinking water for over 7 billion people on earth will only be achieved if waste is collected and treated worldwide.
• Plastic pollution of air, water and soil will only stop increasing if waste is collected and treated worldwide.
• GHG emissions will fall drastically if we transition to “zero waste” - this means developing a sober and circular approach in order to reduce waste volumes and transform all remaining waste into resources.

But also...

• Waste management is an imperative for public health and hygiene.
• The issue of waste has an impact on poverty around the world.
• The waste issue has an impact on access to education (SDG 4) due to the large number of children involved in informal recycling.
• The issue of waste is an opportunity to reduce hunger in the world (SDG 2), by limiting food waste and recovering organic waste;
• The issue of waste is in itself an indicator of our ability to preserve our natural resources (SDG 14 and 15) and reduce our energy needs (SDG 7).
• The issue of waste is also an opportunity to produce energy locally (SDG 7) from non-recyclable materials, as well as from non-consumable organic matter.
• The issue of waste touches the heart of our economic model (SDG 8), which must evolve to enable us to produce without waste, while guaranteeing stable employment and collective prosperity.
• The issue of waste requires infrastructures (SDG 9) that are designed in an efficient territorial network (SDG 11), using innovative technologies;
• The issue of waste is essentially one of partnership and cooperation (SDG 17), given the multitude of players involved.

Plaidoyer Européennes 2024

SDG Infography