French Solid Waste Partnership

What a Waste 3.0

Lucia Lopez — 2026-03-24T13:53:02Z

Published by the World Bank Group, What a Waste 3.0 is the third edition of a global series dedicated to municipal solid waste management at the global level.

Building on the 2012 and 2018 editions, this report provides an updated and expanded analysis based on the most recent publicly available data, covering 217 countries and economies and 262 cities. It compiles structured information on waste generation, composition, collection, treatment, and disposal, as well as on regulatory frameworks, institutional arrangements, costs, and financing mechanisms.

Designed as a technical reference, the publication aims to provide a comprehensive global dataset to support analysis, planning, and benchmarking of waste management systems. It does not put forward policy recommendations, but instead makes data widely accessible to support evidence-based decision-making and informed dialogue across the sector.

Against the backdrop of rising waste volumes, increasing environmental pressures, and persistent service gaps, What a Waste 3.0 highlights the scale and urgency of the global challenge. By making this information available at a global level, the report contributes to establishing a common foundation for action and supports the transition toward more efficient and circular systems.

This resource is intended for national and local governments, development institutions, researchers, private sector actors, and practitioners working in waste management, the circular economy, and urban development.

Waste Management in the Middle East and North Africa

Pauline — 2026-02-18T14:12:33Z

Countries in the MENA region are experiencing increasing strain as a result of rapid population growth, accelerated urban expansion, and higher consumption patterns. According to the World Bank report “Waste Management in the Middle East and North Africa,” the region currently produces more than 155 million tons of waste annually, and this amount is expected to nearly double, reaching approximately 294 million tons by 2050.

The World Bank, as an international financial institution supporting sustainable development worldwide, works closely with governments to strengthen public services, infrastructure, and governance.
This report, published in January 2026, provides an in-depth analysis of waste management systems across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It examines current practices, institutional and financial frameworks, and key challenges affecting the waste management.
The publication highlights the economic, environmental and public health implications of current waste management practices. It also proposes improvements of waste management practices to avoid the costs associated with poor management while realizing efficiency gains and seizing circular economy opportunities.
By providing data, regional comparisons and policy recommendations, the report contributes to ongoing international discussions on waste management systems and supports countries in strengthening long-term resilience, protecting the environment, and improving well-being.

Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 for Youth

Lucia Lopez — 2025-12-18T14:41:15Z

The Global Waste Management Outlook for Youth (GWMO for Youth) provides an updated overview of global waste generation and management trends since 2018. The report is jointly developed by UNEP, the Children and Youth Major Group, and ISWA (International Solid Waste Association), building on previous UN resolutions to assess progress and remaining challenges across regions and income levels.

The GWMO for Youth highlights the significant impacts of current waste management practices on public health, ecosystems and economic stability. It underlines that children and young people are among the most affected, as their developing bodies and immune systems are particularly vulnerable to pollution and waste-related toxins.

Using data-driven insights, the report explores how different waste management pathways influence health and environmental outcomes, and demonstrates the benefits of strengthened waste prevention, collection and treatment systems. It emphasises that waste management is a cross-cutting issue that requires coordinated action across sectors.

The report places young people at the heart of the solution, recognising their role as advocates, innovators and future decision-makers. It calls on governments, local authorities, businesses, financial institutions and citizens to work together, while empowering youth to actively shape more sustainable waste and resource management systems.

Throwing away our health - The impacts of solid waste on human health

Pauline — 2025-12-17T09:19:43Z

This document summarizes current knowledge on the links between solid waste and human health, focusing on municipal solid waste. World Health Organization, 2025.

It covers definitions of waste types, management practices and trends, and examines associated hazards, exposure pathways, and affected populations.

The document reviews available epidemiological evidence and highlights research gaps. It underscores the need for sustainable, integrated waste management, stronger governance, and active engagement from the health sector to reduce health risks and inform evidence-based policy and practice.

Towards Zero Waste: a catalyst for delivering the Sustainable Development Goals

Pauline — 2025-09-24T15:23:40Z

Waste management is a central challenge for sustainable development. The UNEP report “Towards Zero Waste” shows how better waste management can unlock progress across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This 2023 report highlights waste management as a critical driver for achieving the SDGs.

It shows how unsustainable resource use and mismanaged waste exacerbate poverty, inequality, health risks, and environmental degradation. It calls for a transition to zero-waste societies through three steps: (1) establishing control over waste, (2) implementing Environmentally Sound Management (ESM), and (3) adopting circular economy approaches.

Case studies from the Global South illustrate how waste reduction, recycling, composting, and energy recovery can generate jobs, improve public health, empower women, protect ecosystems, and mitigate climate change. By prioritizing inclusive and just waste management, countries can simultaneously advance multiple SDGs.

Atlas on waste management and climate change mitigation

Pauline — 2025-07-08T12:01:35Z

This publication is produced in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD) and with the support of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) working group on Waste Management and Climate Change.

As the next generation of NDCs takes shape ahead of COP30 and ambitions must rise, waste management remains an overlooked yet powerful lever for mitigation.

Produced by the French Solid Waste Partnership (FSWP) with contributions from the French Development Agency (AFD) and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), this Atlas demonstrates how improved waste policies and practices can substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

Drawing on data from 103 AFD countries and their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the publication assesses the current state of waste management globally and outlines four strategic levers for impactful action: waste prevention, reduce open burning and open dumping to more environmentally sound landfilling and organic waste management, energy recovery, and material recycling.

Aimed at policymakers and climate finance stakeholders, this Atlas serves as an essential resource, calling for greater recognition and integration of sustainable waste management as a cornerstone of effective climate solutions.

Waste Management to Address the Climate Crisis

Pauline — 2025-07-02T07:10:13Z

“By improving waste management, we can prevent up to 20% of the total anthropogenic GHG emissions in the world—one of the most significant opportunities for climate mitigation available today.” (ISWA, 2024, COP29 Declaration).
This publication uncovers the pivotal role waste management can play in addressing the climate crisis, exploring 3 crucial levers of GHG emissions reduction: technical, regulatory and financial.

As the climate crisis grows more urgent and international Climate COPs strive to build consensus on concrete mitigation measures, waste management is emerging as a crucial component of the solution. This publication brings together expert insights, practical solutions, and case studies to demonstrate how the Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of waste can help face the climate crisis.

Key messages
An Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of waste should be made available to all, everywhere around the world. Its implementation is only possible with the full commitment of stakeholders to their respective roles and responsibilities.
Waste management should be included in countries' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) given its undeniable potential in achieving the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Assessing direct and indirect GHG emissions (scopes 1, 2, 3 and avoided emissions) is key to guide decisions and policy making, as well as to evaluate and monitor the impacts of reduction levers.
Priority should be given to the levers of waste prevention and increased recyclability, while including the informal sector to ensure a just transition. However, the ESM of the waste that could not be avoided nor recycled, is just as much a priority to reduce methane and black carbon emissions. These two greenhouse gases both have a high global warming potential and result directly from mismanaged waste.
The public policy and regulatory levers are crucial in driving incremental change in waste prevention and management. They should include fiscal instruments enable a cost recovery approach to make waste management systems viable.
Financial mechanisms are key in bridging the existing funding gaps and in driving worldwide implementation of sustainable waste management systems.

This publication aims at inspiring all stakeholders directly or indirectly connected to the waste sector to build a common vision to drive local actions in this field, as a path towards climate change mitigation.

PressRelease.

MOOC: Municipal Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries

Pauline — 2025-02-25T15:02:52Z

Learn about the key elements of a solid waste management system, with a focus on challenges of and solutions for urban settlements of low and middle income countries. All of this with numerous case examples from around the globe and lots of fun!

Have you come across large piles of garbage in neighborhoods and streets, or smelly waste disposal sites polluting the environment of low and middle income countries? Are you also convinced that improvements are necessary and do you want to know what kind of sustainable solutions are appropriate to better manage waste and enhance recycling and recovery? If yes, this course is for you! This course provides an overview of the municipal solid waste management situation in developing countries covering key elements of the waste management system, with its technical, environmental, social, financial and institutional aspects. Besides understanding the challenges you will learn about appropriate and already applied solutions through selected case studies.

The course also covers strategic planning and policy issues discussing future visions for waste management and the aspect of a circular and green economy. Considering the importance of the organic waste fraction, the course covers explain several organic waste treatment technology options such as composting, anaerobic digestion, and some other innovative approaches. Besides learning the science behind organic waste treatment, the course also provides information on the practical everyday issues and presents case studies with guest lecturers..

– Visit this website to followthis MOOC.

Transfer of waste and plastics in aquatic environments

Pauline — 2024-05-20T14:06:28Z

From rivers, lakes and their watersheds, from springs to mouths (brackish waters and estuaries), right down to the oceans, aquatic ecosystems are threatened by increasing pollution from waste.

The situation is alarming: 80% of marine waste comes from land-based activities, representing a flow of 1 million tonnes per year, which is likely to triple over the next 20 years. In order to slow down this alarming prognosis, and implement concrete measures, it is essential to gain a better understanding of transfer phenomena.

It is in this context and the spirit of general interest associations that the International Network of Basin Organisations (INBO) and its partners, the French solid waste partnership (FSWP), the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), have worked together to draw up a Handbook to learn and to act with the support of the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB). The aim is to raise awareness and inform those involved in the protection of aquatic ecosystems and waste management, as well as those less familiar with the issue, so that together they can make informed decisions and take concrete action. This manual covers all aspects of aquatic ecosystems: “From Source to Sea”, thanks to cases study from all over the world (Mekong, Europe, Togo, …).

The handbook is part of a more global approach by the United Nations Environment Assembly (March 2022), which has adopted a resolution to negotiate a global treaty to combat plastic pollution by the end of 2024.

Changer d'échelle : 40 propositions pour une industrie circulaire

Philippe — 2023-06-09T15:07:00Z

Rapport de l'Institut national de l'économie circulaire (INEC) remis à Bérangère Couillard, secrétaire d'État chargée de l'Écologie le 9 juin 2023.

La remise de ces 40 propositions a lieu quelques semaines après la présentation du projet de loi Industrie verte en conseil des ministres et juste avant l'examen du texte au Sénat.

L'INEC a déjà fait part de sa déception quant à l'absence de prise en compte des contraintes liées aux ressources naturelles et à la sécurisation des approvisionnements, garante de la souveraineté et la résilience de notre économie.

Aujourd'hui, l'INEC porte ses 40 propositions concrètes dans le débat public pour construire le cadre légal et réglementaire indispensable à un nouveau modèle de production et de consommation.

Ces propositions sont le fruit de l'expertise et de l'expérience des adhérents de l'INEC et couvrent l'ensemble du spectre économique : de la planification nécessaire pour les filières stratégiques à la création d'un nouveau cadre fiscal destiné à encourager les changements de comportement des consommateurs, en passant par des mesures de formation des publics ou encore de soutien aux PME/TPE.

“Basculer notre modèle économique vers un modèle circulaire, c'est-à-dire une économie nouvelle qui vise à réduire le besoin en ressources naturelles et qui est socialement plus inclusive, tel est le grand défi de ce siècle.” déclare Emmanuelle Ledoux, directrice générale de l'INEC.