SWM and LCA Application Lecture 2 - Overview on Integrated Sustainable Waste Management and Circular Economy

Flashcards about Sustainable Waste Management and Circular Economy

Sustainable Development (Brundtland Commission, 1987)

Comprehensive assessment of critical issues of environment and development, strengthen international cooperation, and find new innovative solutions; meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

A universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all; builds on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals and are interconnected.

Link between SWM and SDGs

The management of solid waste is an integral part of Sustainable Development and connected with other issues of social, economic, and technological development.

The Idea of Circular Economy

An approach that involves reducing waste disposal.

The Polluter Pays Principle

All producers of waste are legally and financially responsible for the safe and environmentally sound disposal of the waste they produce.

The Precautionary Principle

Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage to the environment, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures

The Proximity Principle

Treatment and disposal of waste take place at the closest possible location to its source to minimize the risks involved in its transport.

The Prior Informed Consent Principle

Affected communities and other stakeholders be apprised of the hazards and risks, and that their consent be obtained.

Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM)

A comprehensive framework, connecting stakeholders, technologies, policies, and impacts; a reaction to the finding that projects focusing only on technology implementation often fail.

Regulatory Framework in ISWM

Political, legal, and institutional aspects.

Socio-Cultural Framework in ISWM

The success of sustained solid waste management is critically linked with public engagement and trust.

Financial/Economic Conditions in ISWM

Financing waste management is expensive and requires substantial investments, often the greatest concern for municipalities.

Technical elements of waste management

Collection and Transport, Recovery, Recycling, Waste to energy, Disposal; Includes Waste prevention: Reduce, and Reuse

Social assessment in waste management

Used to gain an understanding of the impact of the waste management system on multiple stakeholders, analyzing service quality and willingness to pay.

Informal Sector in Waste Management

Activities connected to SWM where enterprises do not pay taxes and often do not consider legislation on employment and environmental protection.

Informal waste workers

Individuals or small micro-enterprises that intervene in waste management without being registered and formally charged with providing waste management services; often without contracts or regular income

Informal waste recycling - Waste pickers

A common livelihood for the urban poor in low- and middle-income countries involving collecting sorting, recycling and selling waste.

People who work in the Informal Waste Sector

Migrants, children, women, laid off workers, elderly and disabled individuals

Main Activities of the Informal Sector

Informal waste collection, recovery of recyclables, manufacturing activities, and provision of services like street sweeping.

EU-Regulations

Directly valid and legally binding in all EU Member States.

EU-Directive

Commit the Member States with regard to the objectives to be achieved within a given period, while leaving the national authorities the choice of means of achieving those objectives; must be transposed into national law.

EU Circular Economy Strategy

Transforming waste into a resource to develop a circular economy and improving waste management to reduce health and environmental problems.

EU Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP)

Reduce pressure on natural resources, create jobs, support climate neutrality and biodiversity goals, cover the entire product life cycle, focus on product design, circular processes, and sustainable consumption.