French Solid Waste Partnership

Human Rights

Lucia Lopez — 2026-04-30T13:28:05Z

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Biodiversity

Lucia Lopez — 2026-03-26T13:46:08Z

Beyond health and climate issues, the sustainable and circular management of resources and waste plays a crucial role in preserving biodiversity, both on land and in aquatic environments. Every year, billions of tonnes of household waste are produced worldwide, more than a third of which is not treated properly. This waste contaminates soil, rivers and oceans, contributing directly to the erosion of biodiversity. Thus, 80% of waste in aquatic environments originates from poor waste management on land.

Poor waste management leads to the pollution of soil and aquatic environments, the degradation of natural habitats, the poisoning of wildlife through ingestion or exposure to toxic substances, and the disruption of food chains. Microplastics, for example, are now present in all ecosystems, from agricultural soils to the deep sea, with consequences that are still poorly understood but potentially significant for species and biological balances.

Implementing Environmentally Sound Waste Management

In light of these findings, the Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of waste, as defined by Article 2(8) of the Basel Convention, which aims to protect the environment and health, constitutes an essential solution for safeguarding biodiversity. It helps to limit the sector's negative impacts on living organisms and ecosystems through:

Improved waste collection, to prevent waste from leaking into the environment, particularly plastics and microplastics, in both terrestrial and aquatic environments;
The availability and improvement of final disposal facilities everywhere and for everyone, in order to reduce soil, air and water pollution, for example by closing uncontrolled, uncovered landfills without leachate treatment in favour of engineered landfills compliant with the Basel Convention's waste management guidelines;
Prevention, the first step in the waste management hierarchy, which reduces waste generation and the use of natural resources, thereby helping to reduce human pressure on ecosystems, fauna and flora.
The implementation of the circular economy hierarchy of actions, as cross-sectoral measures that will restore balance with natural resources through changes in production, consumption and usage patterns.

The objectives of the FSWP

In this context, the FSWP promotes sustainable waste management that is fully integrated with biodiversity issues, and encourages collective and cross-sectoral mobilisation to protect life on land and below water, in full alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – especially SDGs 14 and 15. Its main objectives are:

To strengthen the integration of waste management into local and national biodiversity protection policies and strategies, particularly for the implementation of the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Agreement.
To promote concrete and operational solutions for the Environmentally Sound Management of waste – starting with the collection of all waste and the end of open dumping and open burning – thereby limiting the impacts of waste on ecosystems and living organisms.
Support the gradual development and improvement of effective waste management systems tailored to each context, in order to reduce diffuse pollution.
Encourage the circular economy by promoting waste prevention, recycling and recovery to limit pressure on natural resources.
Promote cooperation between public and private actors to share best practices, pool efforts, and accelerate the transitions.

Health

Lucia Lopez — 2026-03-26T13:19:29Z

Waste management is a key determinant of human health. Inadequate waste management directly exposes communities, workers and ecosystems to significant health risks, contributing to the spread of diseases, the release of toxic substances and the deterioration of living conditions. Appropriate and sustainable waste management systems on the other hand are a powerful tool for improving public health and preventing risks.

Poorly managed waste can contaminate water resources and soil, cause air pollution (particularly through open burning, which generates emissions of dioxins, furans, POPs and black carbon), encourage the proliferation of disease vectors, and expose populations to persistent toxic substances.

Improving waste management is a key lever for reducing these risks. It relies in particular on source reduction and eco-design to limit hazardous substances, the establishment of functional collection systems, the safe management of hazardous and medical waste, the restriction of high-risk practices (open burning and open dumping), and the protection of workers and exposed populations.

Thus, the Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of waste to protect the environment and health (Article 2(8) of the Basel Convention) is a key driver for adopting the One Health approach, which recognises the interdependence between human health, animal health and the health of ecosystems. Indeed, it enables:

Improved public health,
The protection of ecosystems, and
Reducing pressures on biodiversity.

The objectives of the FSWP

In this context, the FSWP is committed to promoting an integrated approach to waste management, aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (in particular SDG 3) and fully aligned with the One Health principles:

Integrating global health issues (human, animal and environmental) into waste management policies and strategies.
Strengthen waste management systems to reduce health and environmental risks, particularly in the most vulnerable contexts.
Promote the safe management of hazardous and medical waste, in line with international recommendations.
Reduce exposure to pollution and toxic substances by promoting prevention and the circular economy.
Encourage cross-cutting approaches and cooperation between sectors (health, environment, local authorities, research).
Contribute to international commitments, particularly in the areas of health, biodiversity and sustainable development.

A publication highlighting the links between waste management and human health

The FSWP invites you to read the World Health Organisation (WHO) publication released in December 2025. This document summarises current knowledge on the links between solid waste, pollution and human health, highlighting the dangers, routes of exposure, the most vulnerable populations and the need to strengthen prevention, ESM of waste and the involvement of the health sector in public policy.

Read the publication

Circular Economy

Lucia Lopez — 2026-03-23T14:42:07Z

Circular economy is not an end in itself. Its ultimate goal is not to “increase recycling” or “close loops”, but to build a future where value creation is decoupled from environmental bads —including resource extraction, and waste generation.

Given the imperative of ecological, economic and social transition, the French Solid Waste Partnership (FSWP) is contributing to international discussions on what a circular economy could ultimately look like in 2050, both in France and around the world.

The purposes of the circular economy

In public debate, circular economy is often reduced to recycling. However, recent international work – in particular the ISO 59004 norm, adopted in 2024, which breaks down the “10R” principle* into 13 actions ordered according to the life cycle – shows that a complete circular economy begins well before recycling and continues well beyond it. Refusing and avoiding some products or uses, rethinking the needs, adapting production through eco-design, reducing resource consumption, reusing, repairing, reconditioning, remanufacturing, repurposing, recycling, recovering energy, and even recovering materials stored in historic landfill sites: these actions form a coherent scale where recycling and energy recovery are at the bottom, once all the levers of reduction, moderation, sustainability, reuse and repair have been activated.

These coordinated actions only make sense when viewed in the context of the three objectives of circular economy: to reduce environmental and health impacts, to maintain an economy that creates value and jobs, and to ensure our societies' resource sovereignty and resilience.

The current mostly linear model

Today, our production methods remain dominated by the manufacturing of products that are not very durable or repairable. Our economic models are based on individual ownership of goods and unsustainable consumption. The reuse and repair economy exists but remains largely confined to the social and solidarity economy. These production and consumption models maintain strong pressure on natural resources, ecosystems and the climate, and contribute to exceeding planetary boundaries.

2050 horizon: an economy compatible with the “3-D” vision

In a 2050 scenario compatible with vision set forth by the FSWP - for a future where economic growth is decoupled from environmental bads, and therefore decontaminated and decarbonised -, virgin material flows are drastically reduced. Fewer products are manufactured, but they are more durable, repairable and better designed. The economy is organised around models of functionality or performance, in which the producer or lessor retains ownership of the good or responsibility for its end of life. Reuse, repair, refurbishment and remanufacturing activities are no longer marginal: they form a structural part of the economic fabric, primarily at local level, with stable business models and strong social and professional recognition.

Waste management systems also evolve. Worldwide, all waste is managed in accordance with Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) as defined by the Basel Convention. Very little waste remains to be treated: the return to soil of organic materials is secured through high-quality upstream sorting by users and suitable packaging; material recycling relies on value chains capable of providing regular, standardised, traceable flows; and energy recovery focuses on non-recyclable volumes.

The circular economy would therefore become a means to reduce environmental impacts and strengthen economic resilience, in service of a truly decarbonised, depolluted and decoupled future—one in which health, the well-being of living systems, human dignity and access to decent living conditions are central.

Read the full Position Paper about Circular Economy and a 2050 Vision :

Circular Economy Note

See the complete circular economy schematic :

Complete Outline

*Kirchherr, J. et al. (2017). Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions. Resources, Conservation & Recycling [online], No. 127. p. 224. [Last consulted 13 March 2026]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.09.005.

Protection of water resources

Lucia Lopez — 2026-03-18T15:08:15Z

80% of waste in aquatic environments originates from poor waste management on land.

Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of waste, as defined by the Basel Convention, is one of the most effective and sustainable solutions to reduce pollution in aquatic environments (rivers, seas, oceans), protecting water resources, and preventing flooding.

Implementing ESM as defined by the Basel Convention.

Implementing such management systems is complex and requires the control of waste collection, treatment, and disposal in order to protect both human health and the environment.

Establishing waste management systems compliant with the Basel Convention helps prevent waste from leaking into the environment and thus:

Protect aquatic environments and access to drinking water
Protect biodiversity and marine ecosystems
Control leachate and the risks of groundwater contamination
Prevent blockages in urban drainage systems and reduce the risk of flooding

Waste management has infrastructure and environment costs, but the cost of inaction far exceeds the cost of implementing ESM measures. Its financing must therefore rely on a range of financial instruments that involve both public and private actors.

Reducing waste volume at source by transitioning to a circular economy.

Our linear use of resources depletes Nature and causes us to produce far too much waste. We must reduce our consumption of virgin materials through a change in production, consumption, and usage models, based on reducing, reusing, repairing, and ultimately recycling, through solutions adapted to each type of product.

The mechanical consequence of this transition to a circular economy is a reduction in future waste volumes, which helps reducing investment costs as well as environmental and social impacts.

Discover the FSWP's position for the upcoming United Nations Water Conference.

Discover

Climate Change

Pauline — 2025-10-24T06:39:48Z

The waste sector contributes between 3% and 5% of total global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Improved prevention and waste management presents an opportunity to reduce global GHG emissions by 15 to 25% when aligned with the principles of Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) — for the protection of the environment and health, and supporting a just and circular transition.

Globally, the waste sector (including wastewater management) accounts for about 3–5% of global GHG emissions, according to the IPCC estimates. However, this share varies widely by country. In several island and small states, waste-related emissions can reach 20–30% of national totals. High shares are found in Costa Rica (28%), Ghana (23%), Bulgaria (21%), Eswatini (20%), Bhutan (20%), Georgia (18%), Jordan (17%), El Salvador (16%), Niger (15%), and Syria (15%).

Furthermore, the accounting principle for emissions, which primarily aims to avoid double counting, results in the invisibilization of emissions from the sector. Indeed, waste transport, recycling activities, and energy production from waste are accounted for in the transport, industry, and energy sectors... Thus, the reduction potential through waste prevention and management actions would represent 15 to 25% of global emissions.

Climate Watch (2021). In. FSWP (2025). “Map 1 - Share of GHG emissions from the waste sector in total emissions, 2021”, Atlas on Waste Management and Climate Change Mitigation, p. 14.

There are three main levers for reducing GHG emissions from the waste sector:

Prevention

This first lever relies on resource-efficient consumption, eco-design, and the “8Rs” (refuse, rethink, reduce, reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture and repurpose). Implementing this approach — which reduces waste generation — offers the greatest mitigation potential. Special attention should be given to food waste, to prevent emissions from unnecessary production and from its treatment, which can become a major source of methane emissions.

Managing Biowaste and Eliminating Open Burning

This second lever focuses on implementing waste management practices consistent with ESM, whose main objective — as defined by the Basel Convention — is the protection of health and the environment. It is estimated that nearly 40% of municipal waste generated worldwide is poorly managed. Landfilling waste in sites that do not apply sound construction and operation practices results in methane emissions.

Open burning or spontaneous fires at dumpsites produce black carbon — both of which have strong warming effects. Reducing these emissions represents a major opportunity for climate mitigation, while also protecting health and the environment.
Methane remains in the atmosphere for about 12 years and has a global warming potential 84 times greater than CO₂ over a standardized period of 20 years for calculating CO₂ equivalents.

Because methane emissions have a strong short-term impact, actions taken now can deliver immediate benefits in slowing the warming trend.

Information Note on Methane Emissions

Recovery of Recycled Materials and Energy from Waste

This third lever promotes waste treatment methods that avoid emissions which would otherwise occur through fossil resources consumption in other sectors (e.g., industry, district heating).

Energy can be recovered from:

Anaerobic digestion of organic waste,
Biogas capture from engineered landfills,
Waste to Energy plants (WtE), or
Refused Derived Fuel (RDF) production.

This lever represents the final link in the transition toward a circular economy, but prevention will always remain the top priority for reducing not only climate impacts, but also pollution and biodiversity loss.

Energy recovery opportunities

FSWP (2025). “Figure 11 - Opportunities for energy recovery”, Atlas on Waste Management and Climate Change Mitigation, p. 40.

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 have to work hand in hand with other sectors: contributing to eco-design; supplying low-carbon raw materials and energy; developing a market for the recovered energy and materials.

Beyond being necessary to address planetary boundaries, circular economy can be, and must be designed to also reduce GHG emissions when producing needed goods, in line with the 10Rs, and the ISO norm 59004:2024.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Philippe — 2023-08-30T10:28:16Z

Solid Waste: a central and fundamental issue to the overall achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). It is a cross-cutting indicator of our ability to develop sustainably.

Photo by Kiara Worth

Waste management in SDGs

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

Infographie ODD

Plastic Pollution

Philippe — 2023-07-13T12:33:14Z

Plastic pollution of air, water and soil will only stop increasing if we reduce plastic waste generation and we collect and treat all remaining waste worldwide.

This thematic group will eventually cover all types of waste and associated environmental impacts. Initially, however, we will focus on pollution from poorly managed plastic waste.

Inexpensive, robust, light and versatile, plastics are omnipresent in all human activities (packaging, transport, electronics, construction, agriculture, clothing, aeronautics, health, etc.) due to the wide scope of services they provide. Their use has grown exponentially since the 1950s, and is set to increase by a factor of 2.6 between now and 2060, according to the OECD. The challenges of plastics' life-cycle and end-of-life have until now been underestimated or even ignored, both in product design and in setting up collection, sorting, recycling and recovery infrastructures. In parallel, the low production costs of petro-sourced polymers make sobriety and circularity unattractive to manufacturers. The consequences of this mismanagement are all too well known: the dissemination of plastics in all natural environments, even in the highest and deepest parts of the natural world, with destructive effects on wildlife, particularly in the oceans.

The dissemination of plastics

This dissemination raises the question of the impact on human health and ecosystems caused by certain components and additives, as well as by micro- and nanoparticles of plastics. While toxicological studies have already made it possible to rule out or strictly limit certain dangerous additives (e.g. POPs, bisphenol A, etc.). However extensive scientific knowledge is still needed. The study of dissemination phenomena, interaction mechanisms with living organisms, and the health impacts of plastics including their ingredients, is one of the most active fields of scientific research at the moment. Research is also exploring alternatives to these materials embeded in our daily lives. This knowledge is essential to inform and guide public action.

Waste professionals advocate the reduction of the volumes of plastic waste, the collection of 100% of plastic waste worldwide, and the recycling of this waste through material recovery and, ultimately, energy production, since only some plastics are recyclable, and recycling itself produces waste to be disposed of.

UN member states' commitments in regards to waste collection and treatment are therefore necessary, in addition to setting targets for reducing plastic production by industrial players.

Local Governance

Philippe — 2023-07-13T12:31:12Z

The objective of providing a healthy environment (air, soil, water) to more than 7 billion people on earth will only be achieved if waste is collected and treated all around the world.

Waste management in human settlements is a challenge to be met in every region of the world. It requires a willingness to act, the ability to implement sustainable management solutions for the benefit of all, coordinated regional planning and the involvement of citizens. It is as much about reducing, reusing and recycling (materials and energy) what can be reduced as it is about disposing of waste that cannot yet be recycled in good environmental conditions.

Each country, each region, each city has its own challenges to meet, which require local ownership and the implementation of local solutions:

Stable governance of waste management
Ambitious but realistic planning of the solutions to be implemented to serve everyone
Funding for infrastructure AND operational management of collection and treatment
Cooperation between the public and private sectors

Waste management is closely linked to other sectors for which public authorities are responsible: drainage, drinking water, sanitation, transport, road management, agriculture and health. It is therefore necessary to establish a system of territorial governance that enables the integration of the public policies of these sectors.

Our objectives

We want to convince international decision-makers that waste management has an immediate impact on people's daily lives, far beyond the issue of cleanliness. Good waste management supports the achievement of many sustainable development objectives.

We want to advance territorial governance in relation to waste management, in particular by:

Remind all stakeholders that waste management has a cost, but that this cost can be shared;
Make short-, medium- and long-term planning a guiding principle for the authorities in charge;
Consider that, everywhere, waste treatment in any form is an element in the implementation of a circular economy;
Encourage the development of a common vision through cooperation between the authorities responsible for solid waste management and those responsible for spatial planning processes and public service funding mechanisms.

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