By Purvi Agarwal
Abstract
Waste generation is an inevitable byproduct of civilization, but how it is managed can greatly affect whether it becomes a source of pollution. This article examines international waste disposal and management, focusing on hazardous waste and the circular economy. It highlights the environmental and public health challenges posed by rising waste volumes and advocates for circular economy practices. Drawing on the Global Waste Management Outlook 2024, it reviews various waste management trajectories like Waste Management as Usual (WMU) and Circular Economy (CE), which emphasises resource efficiency and environmental regeneration. The financial impact of waste management is also analysed, showing how effective systems can drastically reduce costs and externalities. The analysis also discusses the impact of international agreements and successful initiatives like China’s National Sword Policy and the EU’s Single-Use Plastics Ban in promoting sustainable waste management.
Introduction
Evidently, with every inch of civilization there are large amounts of garbage and waste generated, while most of this ends up in landfills, the design of the product, the method of discarding the product, and each state’s capacity of waste management can determine whether this ‘produce’ is pollution or not. If authorities implement effective waste management systems his article aims to provide a new perspective to garbage and waste disposal, management of hazardous waste at an international level, and circular economy waste disposal by delving into questions such as: What constitutes proper waste disposal? How is hospital waste managed, and where is it processed? How do state governments regulate waste management? What are the negative environmental impacts of improper waste disposal? Thus, by addressing these critical issues, the discussion attempts to highlight the importance of sustainable practices and the role of government policies in mitigating the environmental damage caused by inefficient waste management systems.
Delving into Waste Management and the Trajectory of the Current Practices
As established, garbage and waste disposal is an unavoidable aspect of daily affairs and has long-term implications. The increasing volume of waste not only poses significant ecological risks, but also presents economic and public health challenges that require comprehensive policy responses and sustainable practices. Each year, it is estimated that approximately 11.2 billion metric tonnes of solid waste are generated globally. This has severe repercussions, such as release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases, pollution of ecosystems, biodiversity loss, and Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs). Moreover, it is predicted that solid waste generation will grow 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050 as compared to 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023.
The Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 by the United Nations Environment Programme analyses how various choices in waste management could impact climate change, ecosystem quality and human health, as well as the global economy, further proposing formidable actions towards a zero waste future. This report outlines trajectories for disposal and management of waste to the year 2025, namely Waste Management as Usual (WMU), Waste Under Control (WUC) and Circular Economy (CE). In the case of continuation of current practice of fast-growing waste generation, stakeholders might not keep up as per their capacity, and the midway point is not sufficient progress towards preventing waste and improving its management. In this case, the circular economy is the ideal mechanism to cycle out waste by keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.
As depicted below (figure 1.2) The total net expenditure for global waste management operations in the year 2020 amounted to USD $61.0 billion. Should the current waste management practices persist without modification, the projected net expenditure by the year 2050 is anticipated to increase substantially to USD $640.3 billion. With improved waste management, such as better
recycling, waste separation, and proper disposal, the cost is projected to be reduced to USD $270.2 billion but CE is the most advantageous, projecting a net gain of USD $108.1 billion by 2050. The expenses connected to landfilling, waste-to-energy conversion, and dumping will be significantly lowered and externalities will be minimised, demonstrating substantial reductions in environmental and health-related impacts. Recycling gains have been maximised, indicating a considerable shift towards recycling, reuse, and other circular economy practices that minimise waste and promote resource efficiency.
The current waste management practices present considerable environmental and health-related costs, highlighting the need for a more sustainable approach. The data suggests that a systemic transition towards circular economy principles represents the most effective long-term solution for managing waste in both sustainable and economically viable ways.This analysis strongly supports the global adoption of circular economy practices, emphasising not only the environmental advantages but also the potential for substantial economic benefits. However, given the diversity of national contexts, a uniform approach to systemic change is impractical. The specific tools and pace of implementation will depend on the unique circumstances and priorities of each government.
Addressing Waste Management and Garbage Disposal: Challenges and Approaches within International Governance Framework
The widely recognized Paris Agreement (2015), while primarily focused on Climate Change and carbon emissions, is indirectly linked to the concept of Global garbage and waste management.
The agreement, emphasising on greenhouse gases (GHGs), Circular economy Integration and international cooperation reinforces policies and actions that encourage sustainable waste disposal and reduce environmental impacts from the waste sector. The agreement indirectly pushes nations to improve waste management systems as part of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and fosters waste management technologies while also sharing the best practices among partner countries. Similarly, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal Number 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, directly addresses the need for sustainable waste management by supporting efficient resource use, waste reduction, and the minimisation of adverse environmental consequences.
However, more specifically, the Basel Convention (1989) and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (2001) dealt with the transboundary movement of hazardous waste, restricting the production, and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The Stockholm Convention requires parties to adopt measures to reduce and eliminate the production and use of POPs. Further, to manage POPs stockpiles and waste, parties must adopt measures to reduce and eliminate the release of POPs, and must restrict trade in POPs to prevent their spread. These can also be transported over long distances through the atmosphere and oceans, affecting regions far from their source.Therefore for unintentionally produced POPs, countries are required to develop national action plans to address their releases. The Basel Convention is aimed at preventing the export of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries and creates a framework for the management and disposal of hazardous wastes, encouraging ecologically friendly methods. A key provision of this convention is the aspect of “prior informed consent” wherein countries must acquire the approval of the recipient nation before exporting hazardous waste, ensuring that the receiving country is fully informed of what it is importing.
Two particular instances highlighting effective waste management mechanisms are the – National Sword Policy of China in 2018 and the EU Single-Use Plastics Ban in 2019. The NSP bans the import of most plastics and other materials, and imposes strict contamination limits on recyclable materials prompting countries to improve their domestic recycling systems, focusing on reducing contamination and increasing the quality of recyclables. The policy has been successful in limiting the amount of waste that flows into China, and countries have had to invest in better sorting technologies and processes.
The European Union adopted some ambitious regulations to curb plastic waste by banning certain single-use plastics, underscoring its commitment to waste reduction and recycling. Notably, the directive also includes measures to increase extended producer responsibility. The implementation and coverage of this policy is a commendable phenomena and acquires a lot one can learn from as the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) has led to a substantial reduction in plastic waste by banning items such as straws, cutlery, and plates. Additionally, it has spurred increased recycling efforts and enhanced extended producer responsibility, holding
manufacturers accountable for their products’ lifecycle. Consumer awareness has improved through better labelling and information, while EU member states have set national reduction and collection targets to unify efforts against plastic pollution. Furthermore, the directive has encouraged innovation and development of sustainable alternatives. Overall, the SUPD has positively impacted the environment by reducing plastic litter, particularly in marine ecosystems, promoting a more sustainable future.
Concluding remarks
The way forward in waste management is to solve the considerable issues faced by improper waste disposal methods, which contribute to rising costs and environmental deterioration. Minimising waste output is critical to addressing these concerns. The worldwide direct cost of waste management is predicted to be USD 252 billion in 2020, but this figure skyrockets when the hidden costs of pollution, public health consequences, and climate change are included in the same as well. A concentrated push towards sustainable practices and the adoption of circular economy concepts is critical for lowering these costs and promoting a better environment for future generations.
About the author
Purvi Agarwal is pursuing a B.A. (HONS) in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy at Jindal School of International Affairs. She currently serves as a columnist for the Centre for New Economic Studies, Nickeled and Dimed, and as a centre coordinator at the Centre for European Studies. With experience at organizations like ABP Network, NDTV, and the Europe India Centre for Business and Industry, Purvi has developed a keen interest in multilateralism, Indian foreign policy, and financial literacy. She is proficient in Hindi and English and also holds certifications in German and Japanese.
Image Source: World Bank
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