wastemanagement

Waste management refers to the collection, transport, processing, recycling or disposal of waste materials. It includes municipal solid waste as well as industrial, hazardous, and biomedical waste. The aim is to protect human health and the environment, conserve resources, and reduce pollution through a structured set of practices.

Core components include waste generation and segregation at source, collection and transportation, sorting and treatment, and final disposal. Treatment options range from recycling and composting to energy recovery through incineration or anaerobic digestion, while disposal is typically in sanitary landfills. The waste hierarchy emphasizes reduction, reuse, and recycling before energy recovery or disposal.

Governance, infrastructure, and funding are essential. Policies, regulations, and standards establish service requirements and safety. Financing mechanisms, such as municipal budgets or public-private partnerships, influence coverage and reliability. Performance is commonly measured by indicators like per capita waste generation, diversion rate, and recycling rate.

Challenges include rapid urbanization, the growth of plastic and electronic waste, informal collection sectors, contamination of recyclables, and limited resources in low-income regions. Innovations in waste management include improved sorting technologies, waste-to-energy plants, anaerobic digestion, data analytics, and the broader shift toward a circular economy and producer responsibility.

Global practice varies; higher-income countries often have formalized systems with high collection rates, while lower-income areas may rely on informal networks and face service gaps. International cooperation supports best practices, capacity building, and the transfer of technology to advance sustainable waste management.