SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): The latest report published by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) highlights the need to shift to a zero waste approach at the earliest. The report foresees tremendous jump in municipal waste volumes as well as the costs to manage these wastes.
According to the report, municipal solid waste generation is predicted to touch 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050, upon comparison with 2.3 billion tonnes in 2023. The global annual cost of waste management, which was estimated at $361 billion in 2020, is estimated to almost double to $640.3 billion by 2050, it noted.
The report states that several fast-growing are under pressure, due to rapid rate of growth of waste. The decision makers in public as well as private sectors must take immediate actions to move towards zero waste. These actions should complement positive approaches by various governments aimed at creating more sustainable societies, said Inger Anderson, Executive Director, UNEP.
UNEP believes that effective waste prevention and management measures could limit net global annual costs for waste management to $270.2 billion. Furthermore, an ideal circular economy model could lead to a full net gain of $108.5 billion per year.
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