Why current waste management practises are unsustainable.
The World Bank estimates that the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated will rise from the current 1.3 billion tonnes per year to 2.2 billion tonnes per year by 2025, driven by a combination of population growth and rapid urbanisation, especially in developing countries.
Presently, around 70% of this global waste stream ends up in uncontrolled dumps or landfill facilities with adverse environmental consequences such as the release of harmful greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere and the contamination of groundwater. Of the 25-30% that is recovered, around one third is sent to incinerators where environmental and health impacts remain a significant social concern.
In developed countries, despite ongoing efforts to boost recovery and recycling rates, huge volumes of organic material, plastics, metals and glass are sent to landfill each year, leading to harmful environmental consequences and a loss of valuable resources.