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

Sustainable Development

• Brundtland Commission (1987): Sustainable development meets present needs without compromising future generations.

• The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal call to action.

• SDGs address poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity.

• The 17 SDGs are interconnected.

Linking SWM and SDGs

• Solid waste management is integral to sustainable development.

• It connects social, economic, and technological development.

• SDG Indicators measure the success of waste management systems.

Circular Economy

• Aims to reduce waste disposal.

• Principles:

  • Polluter pays

  • Precautionary

  • Proximity

  • Prior informed consent

Integrated Sustainable Waste Management (ISWM)

• Emerged in the early 1990s as a collaborative program involving UNDP, UN-Habitat, and the World Bank.

• It's a comprehensive framework connecting stakeholders, technologies, policies, and impacts.

• Addresses regulatory, socio-cultural, and financial/economic aspects.

Regulatory Framework

• Waste management requires planning and coordination across government levels and stakeholders.

• National governments set guidelines and targets.

• Local governments create regulations for households and institutions.

• Enforcement is a common challenge.

Solid Waste Planning

• National strategies set targets (e.g., recycling) and track progress.

• Local master plans formalize goals and infrastructure investments.

• Programs respond to local conditions.

Socio-Cultural Framework

• Success depends on public engagement and trust.

• Citizens should reduce waste, separate waste types, dispose of waste properly and pay for services.

• Feedback helps improve services.

• Waste management impacts health, housing, and livelihoods of the urban poor.

Financial / Economic Conditions

• Financing is a major concern for municipalities.

• Expenditures include capital (CAPEX) and operational (OPEX) costs.

• CAPEX often accounts for 70% or more of total budget.

• Cost recovery systems (user fees) are needed for sustainability.

Technical Elements of Waste Management

• Collection and Transport

• Recovery

• Recycling

• Waste to energy

• Disposal

• Waste prevention (Reduce, Reuse)

Stakeholders

• Social assessments analyze the waste management system's impact.

• Assessments address service quality, willingness to pay, informal labor risks, working conditions and gender issues.

Informal Sector

• Involves activities connected to SWM without formal registration.

• Workers lack contracts, regular income, and social security.

• Includes waste pickers who collect, sort, and sell waste.

Importance of the Informal Sector

• Significant portion of the global population works in informal economies.

• Large percentage of informal workers are in waste management and sanitation.

• Provides reuse, repair, and waste collection services.

EU Waste Legislation Framework

• Regulations are directly valid in EU Member States.

• Directives require transposition into national law.

EU Circular Economy Strategy

• Transforms waste into a resource.

• Improves waste management to reduce health and environmental problems.

• EU Commission presented an action plan in December 2015.

EU Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP)

• Adopted in March 2020 as part of the European Green Deal.

• Aims to reduce pressure on natural resources and create jobs.

• Supports EU climate neutrality and biodiversity goals.

• Focuses on product design, circular processes, and sustainable consumption.