The inadequate removal and treatment of waste poses multiple threats to human health and the environment. Landfills are the third largest source of anthropogenic methane, a powerful greenhouse gas twenty-eight times more potent than carbon dioxide (over a 100 years) at warming the atmosphere. More than half of the 50 biggest dumpsites in the world directly threaten marine and coastal areas and are sources of waste reaching the oceans. The burning of municipal solid waste, including waste in landfills, is a significant source of black carbon, and contributes to local air pollution and climate change. For many cities, the growing waste burden is becoming increasingly difficult to manage and is leading to negative human health and environmental impacts.
Our Waste Initiative is working with international and local partners to deliver alternatives to existing waste management practices in the Middle East region. The activities from this project will set the foundation of a larger project to demonstrate steps required to successfully transition from uncontrolled dumping of waste to a managed sanitary landfill or other advanced sustainable waste management options.
Thirty-eight of the world’s fifty biggest dumpsites directly impact marine and coastal areas. These dumpsites receive 40% of the world’s waste. Closing these dumps could benefit 64 million people including communities of waste pickers working and living on these uncontrolled dumpsites. Closing them would also prevent 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent emissions annually – a climate benefits akin to removing 5 million cars from roads each year.
In addition to these very large dumpsites there are innumerable open dumpsites in cities and townships with similar negative impacts for the environment and the health of nearby communities. Closing an open dumpsite requires alternative waste management systems specific to the local context and requires adequate planning, improved institutional and administrative capacity, financial resources, social support and political consensus.
Tackling air pollution and climate change to save lives and protect the environment is the foundation of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition’s Bonn communiqué. This strategic project aims to help achieve those time sensitive commitments and help cities/municipalities move towards sustainable waste management practices in their regions.
Lead Partner: A Coalition partner with an active role in coordinating, monitoring and guiding the work of an initiative.
Implementer: A Coalition partner or actor receiving Coalition funds to implement an activity or initiative.
The Solid Waste Emissions Estimation Tool (SWEET) published by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) was used to investigate waste sector emissions of short-lived climate ...
