Concluding remarks

Significant volumes of municipal solid waste are generated globally and are improperly handled, resulting
in significant environmental, economic and social impacts. Efforts are being made to move to more
sustainable use of natural and human resources for the betterment of global society, with the Sustainable
Development Goals adopted to track progress. This report has highlighted the detrimental effect of sub-
optimal MSW management approaches on environmental and social sustainability through the lens of the
SDGs.

Food waste is a significant contributor to global hunger and food insecurity (SDG2). In 2022, an estimated
1.05 billion tonnes of food in the retail, food service and household sectors were wasted globally (UNEP,
2024a), directly impacting on potential opportunities to address hunger and food insecurity. Despite
sufficient global food production to feed the population an estimated 30 per cent of all food produced
globally is wasted (EPA, 2023a), leading to inefficient resource use and exacerbating food scarcity in many
regions. This relates also to SDG12, high levels of MSW generation often stem from overconsumption, and
inefficient production and consumption patterns. Products are currently designed, used, and disposed of
in a linear manner resulting in growing quantities of MSW. The use of landfills for disposal of MSW is still
one of the most common approaches employed across the global, irrespective of the countries
developmental status and uncontrolled “landfills” (known as open dumpsites) are widely used in many
developing countries (Siddiqua et al., 2022). Improper handling and disposal of MSW can lead to
contamination of water resources and hinder sanitation efforts (SDG6), posing severe environmental and
social challenges. When waste is improperly disposed of, it can generate leachate, a toxic liquid formed
when rainwater percolates through waste materials, dissolving harmful substances. This leachate can
contaminate surface water and groundwater, adversely affecting water quality (SDG14) and soil quality
(SDG15) (Eggen et al., 2010). Further, waste management systems have a direct impact on GHG emissions
(SDG13), accounting for approx. 3% of global GHG emissions. improper waste management practices can
contribute significantly to GHG emissions (e.g., methane from organic waste decomposition in landfills)
with the resulting climate change directly affecting terrestrial ecosystems, accelerating biodiversity loss
and desertification (Ali et al., 2014).

Municipal solid waste management is a key service that intersects with wider social, economic, and
environmental inequalities (SDG10). The level of controlled municipal solid waste management varies
greatly by region, with Sub-Saharan Africa and Central and South Asia having the lowest rates, while North
America and Western Europe have the highest (UNEP, 2024c). There are further economic disparities in
municipal solid waste generation and management; higher income countries make up 16 per cent of the
world's population but generate 34 percent of global waste, while low-income countries, which represent
9 percent of the global population, contribute only about 5 percent of the world's waste (Kaza et al.,
2018). In addition to the disproportionate siting of landfills in marginalised communities, residents living
near these facilities face significant health risks due to contaminated groundwater and harmful emissions
(Siddiqua et al., 2022). Poor waste management leads to an increase in both communicable and non-
communicable diseases, along with long-term health disparities (Vinti et al., 2021, Fuller et al., 2022). In
informal economies, waste pickers experience heightened health risks and adverse health outcomes
(Zolnikov et al., 2021).

Despite the environmental and social impacts generated by MSW management systems, technical solutions
exist. MSW can be converted into energy using WtE technologies, which align with SDG7’s objectives by
increasing renewable energy use and improving energy efficiency (Khan and Kabir, 2020). WtE reduces
dependence on fossil fuels, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and promote a circular economy by
recovering energy and valuable resources (Alao et al., 2022). The innovative management of waste (SDG9)
and use of more sustainable management approaches can result in significant benefits for society;
minimising the adverse effects of climate change, and can improve social and economic sustainability
(Ram and Bracci, 2024). Stakeholders are considering more sustainable approaches for MSW management
including integrated approaches (Kundariya, Mohanty et al. 2021), with innovations occurring in waste
collection and transportation, waste-to-energy technologies and organic waste valorisation.

32
Governments and municipalities have an important role in implementing sustainable MSW management to
achieve the SDGs. Minimising waste generation aligns with reducing hunger (SDG2), GHG emissions (SDG13)
and pressure on ecosystems (SDG14 and 15) by reducing the volumes of MSW to be treated (SDG6 and
SDG7) and by retaining products in the economy for longer. Sustainable waste management practices such
as reuse recovery and recycling can promote the reuse of resources, reducing the demand for raw
materials (SDG12) and mitigating deforestation and ecosystem degradation (SDG15) (Cui et al., 2024).
Circular economy practices such as composting can be employed to enhance soil health and reduce the
need for chemical fertilisers, promoting sustainable land use (Choudhary et al., 2024). Public awareness
campaigns, education and engagement are important in fostering behavioural changes and encouraging
responsible waste practices that can reduce environmental harm and protect ecosystems (Choudhary et
al., 2024). Governments, municipalities, and businesses can contribute to implementation of sustainable
MSW management strategies, and appropriate infrastructure to prevents land degradation and
contamination of ecosystems by safely managing toxic and hazardous wastes. For example, municipalities
should ensure that proper landfill design is followed to minimise pollution and risks to workers and
marginalised communities (SDG10). Further, policy interventions and technological innovations play
crucial roles in enhancing waste management systems (SDG9), ensuring effective resource recovery while
and minimising environmental and health risks.

It is important that technical and governance solutions are implemented to mitigate the impact of MSW
management on the SDGs.

33
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