United Nations group favors shift toward recycling

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has issued a report forecasting municipal solid waste (MSW) levels to rise globally by two thirds.

As have previous UNEP efforts and messages, the report endorses waste reduction techniques as important. However, the phrases “circular economy approaches” and “turning rubbish into resources” also are used.

“Waste generation is intrinsically tied to GDP, and many fast-growing economies are struggling under the burden of rapid waste growth,” says Inger Andersen, executive director of the Nairobi, Kenya-based UNEP.

“By identifying actionable steps to a more resourceful future and emphasizing the pivotal role of decision makers in the public and private sectors to move toward zero waste, this Global Waste Management Outlook can support governments seeking to prevent missed opportunities to create more sustainable societies and to secure a livable planet for future generations.”

The report, “Beyond an age of waste: Turning rubbish into a resource,” represents the 2024 version of the UNEP Global Waste Management Outlook (GWMO 2024), and UNEP says it provides the most substantial update on global waste generation and the cost of waste and its management since 2018.