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Every year, an estimated 11.2 billion tonnes of solid waste is collected worldwide and decay of the organic proportion of solid waste contributes about 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Poor waste management – ranging from non-existing collection systems to ineffective disposal – causes air pollution, water and soil contamination. Open and unsanitary landfills lead to contamination of drinking water and can cause infection and transmit diseases.
The way a country manages its solid waste has significant long-term implications for public health, the economy and the environment. Therefore, it is essential to promote an environmentally sound solid waste treatment and disposal programme. Investing in greening the waste sector can generate multiple economic and environmental benefits.
Greening the waste sector primarily involves the three “R’s” – reduce, reuse and recycle – with the long-term vision being to establish a circular economy in which the use of materials and subsequent waste is limited, most unavoidable waste is recycled or remanufactured, and any remaining waste is treated so as to minimize environmental damage or even create additional value through recovering energy embedded in material or products.
Created a Post in ISLANDS, Industry and Entrepreneurship, Waste Management
Chemical pollution has passed safe limit for humanity.
The cocktail of chemical pollution that pervades the planet now threatens the stability of global ecosystems upon which humanity depends.
The chemical pollution planetary boundary is the fifth of nine that scientists say have been crossed, with the others being global heating, the destruction of wild habitats, loss of biodiversity and excessive nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.
We must act now to revert this trend.
Created a Post in Climate Change, Waste Management
The contribution of plastic waste and the plastics industry to climate change is often less known or worse, disregarded.
The impacts of mismanaged plastic waste on the climate, as well as on livelihoods and ecosystems, are an urgent development challenge.
Created an Event in Climate Change, Waste Management
Created an Event in Waste Management, Water and Sanitation
Created a Post in Waste Management
Seychelles "Eco-District" award to encourage sustainable waste management.
"“The selection criteria range from community involvement, coordination, communication, nature conservation and conservation initiatives, to community responsibility and networking," says Jeanette Larue, the Director General of the Public Education and Community Outreach Division in the Seychelles Ministry of Environment.
Photo by Philipp Meeh on Unsplash
Research journal Science on July 2, 2021, published a special issue aiming to examine “a wide range of topics related to plastics and the problems they present.” Of the nine articles in the issue, four discuss the effects of plastic pollution on the earth’s systems and animals, two discuss the technologies hoping to contribute to plastic circularity, and one is a policy discussion supporting an “international legally binding agreement that addresses the entire life cycle of plastics.”
Each year, the volume of global food waste can reach up to 1 billion tons, with 60% of it coming from household. The UNEP Regional Office for West Asia and GO4SDGs launched a campaign to raise awareness to reduce food waste during Ramadan, foster behaviour change, and boost sustainable action. Although this year's Ramadan has ended, we should continue raising awareness about reducing food waste.
Learn more about the GO4SDGs food waste project in West Asia: https://www.greengrowthknowledge.org/news/fasting-feasting-and-food-was…
Created an Event in Energy, Climate Change, Waste Management
Created a Post in Gender, Waste Management
Do you have expertise as a #gender specialist and interest in working on #sustainable waste and chemicals management in developing countries? Apply by 3 June for this short-term consultancy to support the GEF ISLANDS Programme by developing a global gender action plan, monitoring framework, and associated project documents.
The webinar explored the implications of COVID-19 on food waste efforts in food supply chains. Joined by KeHE, Sprouts Farmers Market, Barnana, and food waste expert ReFED, hear the creative solutions and ways that retailers and other businesses are adapting to a changing food landscape.