Putting people first in waste management – Nature

Report on Human-Centered Approaches to Waste Management for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

Global waste generation presents a significant impediment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report reframes waste as a critical social and human rights issue, not merely a material one. It argues that a people-centered approach, which integrates human experience, equity, and local knowledge, is essential for developing effective and just waste management strategies. Such an approach is fundamental to advancing environmental, health, and social justice, directly supporting key SDGs, including those related to poverty, hunger, health, decent work, inequality, sustainable cities, responsible consumption, and life below water.

1.0 The Global Waste Crisis: A Barrier to Sustainable Development

The escalating scale of global waste production directly undermines progress across multiple SDGs. The failure to manage waste sustainably exacerbates inequality, threatens ecosystems, and impacts human health.

1.1 Waste Generation Statistics and SDG Implications

• Municipal Solid Waste: Annual generation of 2.1 to 2.3 billion tonnes, projected to reach 3.8 billion by 2050, directly challenges SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
• Plastic Waste: 19–23 million tonnes enter the ocean annually, severely impacting SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
• E-Waste: 62 million tonnes were generated in 2020, with only 22.3% treated in an environmentally sound manner. This poses a direct threat to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) due to the release of toxic substances.
• Food Waste: Over 1 billion tonnes of food were wasted in 2022 while over 700 million people faced hunger, highlighting a systemic failure that contravenes SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).

2.0 The Social Dimensions of Waste and Inequities

Waste management systems often reflect and deepen social inequalities, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations and undermining goals for social justice and equity.

2.1 The Informal Waste Sector and Decent Work

An estimated 15 to 20 million informal waste pickers are critical to global recycling efforts, yet their contributions are largely ignored. This oversight hinders progress on several SDGs:

1. SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Waste pickers often face precarious working conditions, low pay, and lack of social protection, trapping them in poverty.
2. SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): These workers are disproportionately exposed to toxic substances from e-waste and extreme weather events, threatening their health.
3. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The stigmatization and undervaluation of their labor perpetuate social and economic inequality.

2.2 Waste Colonialism and Global Justice

The practice of wealthier nations exporting waste to less developed countries, known as waste colonialism, creates significant environmental and social burdens. This issue is a direct challenge to:

• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): It exploits global economic disparities.
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): The global illegal waste trade undermines regulatory frameworks and exploits regions with weaker enforcement capacity.

3.0 Recommendations for a Human-Centered and SDG-Aligned Framework

To create truly effective and equitable waste management systems, stakeholders must recenter human experience and prioritize social justice. This requires integrated strategies across policy, science, education, and technology.

3.1 Policy and Governance for Inclusive Systems

• Integrate Local Knowledge: Policymakers must design interventions, such as community-based composting, that are culturally inclusive and technically sound, aligning with SDG 11.
• Empower Informal Workers: Recognize the contributions of waste pickers, ensure fair pay, provide access to healthcare, and integrate them into formal systems to support SDG 8 and SDG 10.
• Strengthen International Collaboration: Enhance global governance to combat illegal waste trafficking through shared databases and capacity building, advancing SDG 16 and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

3.2 The Role of Behavioral Science and Education

• Promote Behavioral Change: Utilize behavioral science to understand and overcome barriers to sustainable practices, fostering responsible consumption patterns in line with SDG 12.
• Enhance Waste Education: Implement early and public education programs to foster habits of reduction and respect for materials, contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and promoting a culture of environmental responsibility.

3.3 Leveraging Technology for Equity

While technological innovation is crucial for efficient waste processing, its application must be governed by principles of equity. It is imperative to combine technological advancement with equity-focused global governance to ensure that high-tech tools support human-centered waste justice rather than enabling new forms of exploitation, thereby reinforcing SDG 16.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article directly links food waste to social inequity and hunger, stating that “Food waste, for example, is tied to hunger and deprivation” and noting that over 700 million people faced hunger in 2023 while over 1 million tonnes of food were wasted.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article highlights the health risks faced by waste workers, mentioning that their “health is threatened by the toxic substances released from e-waste.” It also calls for expanding their access to healthcare.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article focuses on the “15 to 20 million waste pickers in the informal sector,” whose contributions are “largely ignored.” It calls for recognizing their work, ensuring “fair pay,” and providing safe working conditions.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The article discusses how waste management deepens inequality. It introduces the concept of “waste colonialism,” where wealthier nations export waste to less developed countries, placing environmental and social burdens on underrepresented communities.
5. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The core issue discussed is the management of “municipal solid waste (everyday waste from homes, businesses, and institutions),” which is a critical component of urban sustainability. The article provides figures on current and projected generation of this waste.
6. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • This is the central SDG addressed. The article details the massive quantities of waste produced (municipal, plastic, e-waste) and the low rates of recycling and sound treatment, calling for a shift towards a circular economy and waste reduction.
7. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article connects waste management to climate change by noting that waste pickers are “disproportionately exposed to extreme weather” and calls for “climate adaptation planning” to strengthen their resilience.
8. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The article explicitly addresses marine pollution by stating that “19–23 million tonnes of plastic waste enter the ocean” each year, contributing to the vast amount already present.
9. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article discusses the “global illegal waste trade” and “waste trafficking,” which are forms of organized crime. It calls for “solid international collaboration” and “equity-focused global governance” to tackle these issues.

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

1. Under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger):
   • Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access by all people to safe, nutritious and sufficient food. The article connects this target to the problem of food waste, which represents a systemic failure in food distribution while “more than 700 million people still faced hunger in 2023.”
2. Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
   • Target 3.9: Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and pollution. This is relevant to the statement that waste pickers’ “health is threatened by the toxic substances released from e-waste.”
3. Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers. This is addressed through the focus on the informal sector of “15 to 20 million waste pickers” and the call to safeguard them, ensure fair pay, and provide healthcare.
4. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to municipal and other waste management. The article’s entire focus on managing the “2.1 and 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste” generated annually directly relates to this target.
5. Under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
   • Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels. The article highlights the scale of the problem by mentioning that “over 1 million tonnes of food were wasted or lost” in 2022.
   • Target 12.4: Achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes. This is directly referenced by the statistic that “only 22.3% of e-waste was treated in an environmentally sound way in 2022.”
   • Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The article supports this target by detailing low recovery rates (“just around 19% of municipal solid waste was recovered for recycling and composting”) and advocating for a circular economy.
6. Under SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
   • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities. The article provides specific data on this issue, stating that “19–23 million tonnes of plastic waste enter the ocean” annually.
7. Under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):
   • Target 16.4: Significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime. The discussion of “waste trafficking” and “cyber-enabled waste crime” as a “large-scale illegal waste trade across national borders” aligns with combating organized crime.

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

1. For SDG 2 & 12 (Food Waste/Hunger):
   • Amount of food wasted or lost annually (Explicit: “over 1 million tonnes of food were wasted or lost” in 2022).
   • Number of people facing hunger (Explicit: “more than 700 million people still faced hunger in 2023”).
2. For SDG 8 (Decent Work):
   • Number of people working in the informal waste sector (Explicit: “15 to 20 million waste pickers”).
   • Proportion of waste recycled by the informal sector (Explicit: “Waste pickers were responsible for collecting nearly 60% of global plastic waste in 2016”).
3. For SDG 11 & 12 (Waste Management):
   • Total municipal solid waste generated annually (Explicit: “Between 2.1 and 2.3 billion tonnes”).
   • Projected annual municipal solid waste generation (Explicit: “3.8 billion tonnes in 2050”).
   • National recycling rate (Explicit: “just around 19% of municipal solid waste was recovered for recycling and composting”).
   • Total e-waste generated annually (Explicit: “Sixty-two million tonnes were generated in 2020”).
   • Rate of environmentally sound treatment of e-waste (Explicit: “only 22.3% of e-waste was treated in an environmentally sound way in 2022”).
4. For SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
   • Amount of plastic waste entering oceans annually (Explicit: “19–23 million tonnes”).
   • Total estimated plastic waste in the ocean (Explicit: “75–199 million tonnes”).
5. For SDG 3 & 8 (Health & Safety of Workers):
   • (Implied) Incidence of illnesses among waste workers due to exposure to hazardous materials from e-waste.
   • (Implied) Number of waste workers with access to healthcare and social protection schemes.
6. For SDG 10 & 16 (Inequality & Illicit Trade):
   • (Implied) Volume of waste traded illegally from higher-income to lower-income countries.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: nature.com