One of the biggest sustainability challenges facing the world, not just India, is waste management. A recent Commodity Markets Outlook from the World Bank clarifies the urgent problem of waste generation and its extensive effects on the environment, the economy, and society. Cities throughout the world are facing an urgent sustainability challenge as the average amount of waste per person reached 376 kg in 2020, with India leading the way in addressing this problem.
In a world where Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 aims to make cities and communities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, rising waste, especially in the form of plastics, is emerging as a critical concern. The report highlights the striking fact that in 2020, the average person generated approximately 376 kilograms of waste, which is approximately six times the weight of an average individual.
Waste management is not just a local concern; it has global ramifications. As indicated by SDG 3, waste is a substantial contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. It also leads to land degradation, and water pollution (SDG 15), and exacerbates the already concerning issues of landfills and incineration (SDG 14).
The report emphasizes the need for proper waste collection and management to avoid adverse health and environmental impacts.
The United Nations SDG 11 aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. However, the rise in waste generation, especially plastics, poses a significant obstacle to achieving this goal.
