Solid Waste Pollution: UN Issues Warning as Generated Solid Waste of 2.3 Billion Tons in 2023 Predicted to Increase by 3.8 Billion Tons by 2050

Solid waste pollution pertains to the excessive accumulation of useless solid materials discarded by humans after being used. Now, these materials can range from organic waste to recyclable garbage collected from bins, containers, and open dumps. Considered an environmental problem, the pollution also threatens public health due to deteriorating biodegradable waste feasted by disease-carrying insects and small mammals.

Now, the continued threat posed by waste growth has prompted the United Nations (UN) to issue a warning; that Earth must shift from rampant solid waste to a future of turning rubbish into resources. In its report earlier this week, the UN projected that global waste could intensify in the coming decades. The waste problem can be averted until changes or significant improvements are made in global waste management.

Solid Waste Management

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The growing problem of solid waste pollution has been attributed by experts to failure in global waste management, resulting in the pileup of various or organic and inorganic waste in dump sites and even within population centers.

According to The World Bank, there is a global generation of 2.01 billion tons of municipal solid waste annually; at least 33% of this waste is not managed in an "environmentally safe manner."

By estimate, waste generated by each person per day across the globe averages 0.74 kilograms but ranges widely between 0.11 kilograms and 4.54 kilograms. This data consists only of 16% of Earth's human population. But high-income countries can generate as high as 34% or 683 million tons of the global waste, The World Bank reported.

The statistics could be higher based on succeeding reports with higher samples.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates 11.2 billion tons of solid waste is collected around the world. In addition, the decay of organic solid waste is contributing about 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. With this, the swelling capacity and complication of waste growth is posing severe risks to vulnerable ecosystems and human health.

Furthermore, the problem of solid waste includes the issue of plastic pollution.

Also Read: Waste: Landfill Garbage Totals Higher Than Estimated

Solid Waste Pollution

In its recent press release, UNEP reported the following findings and estimations, as well as recommendations concerning solid waste pollution:

Waste growth is rampant in regions that rely excessively on open dumping and burning, which results in a rapid increase in pollution.
There is an urgent need to deviate from economic growth based on waste generation to zero waste generation with circular economy approaches.
Failure or inaction on global waste management is jeopardizing economies, human health, and the environment.

In the official report, UNEP Global Waste Management Outlook 2024, data shows municipal solid waste generation is projected to grow from 2.3 billion tons in 2023 to 3.8 billion tons by the year 2050. This is based on previous data that the global cos of waste management in 2020 was estimated to be around USDS 252 billion, the UN environmental body says.