How poor waste management is accelerating climate change

Sustainable Waste Management and the Impact on the Environment

Introduction

1. Half a kilometer from Bushenyi District’s famous weekly pork market – Kabagarame – sits a dumping site for all the weekly garbage collected from the Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality.

Environmental Threats

• The site is located near the Ruharo wetland, posing a danger to the ecosystem in the lower resource area.
• The waste causes a bad odor, pollutes the water, covers the bottom of the wetland, damages aquatic insects, and brings about hazardous substances such as mercury, lead, and zinc.

Challenges in Waste Management

1. The Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipal Local Government recently implemented solid waste collection services, but they are not being utilized effectively.
2. The site was established after the previous one was taken over by a banana processing factory without compensation being given.
3. The selection of the site did not consider its impact on the environment.

Global Concerns: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Climate change has become a dominant global issue, with significant actions being taken by governments and international organizations to address the crisis.
• Every year, an estimated 11.2 billion tons of solid waste are collected worldwide, contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions.

Link between Waste Management and Climate Change

• Poor waste management causes air pollution, water contamination, and soil contamination.
• Open and unsanitary landfills contribute to the contamination of drinking water and can transmit diseases.
• The decay of organic waste in landfills generates methane and carbon dioxide, which are greenhouse gases contributing to global warming and climate change.

The Waste Question in Uganda

• Uganda has issued an executive order to ensure proper waste management and recycling, but its enforcement has been delayed due to cost concerns.
• Solid waste generation in Kampala has increased, with the waste sector being the second biggest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the city.

Solutions: Remanufacturing and Recycling

• The minimization of waste and the recovery of materials and energy from waste should be prioritized.
• Recycling leads to substantial resource savings and job creation.
• Projects that recover landfill gas or adapt landfill management can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Individual Actions and Financial Responsibility

• Residents can reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics, separate organic materials, and start composting to reduce landfill volumes.
• The Polluter Pays principle should be applied, with individuals being willing to pay for a safe and clean environment.

Responsibility of Local Governments

• Local governments are responsible for waste management within their jurisdictions and must follow regulations to prevent environmental dangers.
• An environmental and social impact assessment should be conducted before implementing waste management plans.

Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production

• There is a need to increase resource efficiency, decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, and promote sustainable lifestyles.
• Excessive consumption and pollution negatively impact health, education, equity, and empowerment.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 15: Life on Land

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality, municipal and other waste management.
• SDG 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
• SDG 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
• SDG 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 11.6: Proportion of urban solid waste regularly collected and with adequate final discharge out of total urban solid waste generated, by cities.
• Indicator for SDG 12.4: Number of parties to international multilateral environmental agreements on hazardous waste that meet their commitments and obligations in transmitting information as required by each relevant agreement.
• Indicator for SDG 13.2: Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan which increases their ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development in a manner that does not threaten food production.
• Indicator for SDG 14.1: Index of coastal eutrophication and floating plastic debris density.
• Indicator for SDG 15.1: Coverage by protected areas of important sites for mountain biodiversity.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: monitor.co.ug

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.