As Climate Change Concerns Intensify, Inconsistent Waste Management Data Emerges as a Major Obstacle — UN's Innovative Approach Aims to Bridge the Gap in India's Coastal Cities.
The fight against climate change, particularly in the context of plastic waste, encounters a significant hurdle — a data problem in waste management. Many cities and local authorities lack comprehensive, actionable data on the waste their communities generate, posing a real challenge for authorities aiming to curb plastic and other types of waste. The absence of consistent waste data hampers the creation of effective policies and local planning, especially during times of rapid urbanisation and population growth.
The Urgency for Accurate Waste Data: A Critical Component in Policy Development
Understanding the volume and types of waste generated is crucial for local governments to select appropriate management methods and plan for the future. Accurate waste data empowers governments to design efficient systems, employ suitable technology, establish effective waste collection and transportation routes, set diversion targets, and monitor progress. Without reliable data, allocating budget and land, evaluating technologies, and engaging strategic partners become challenging.
The Data Gap: Hindrance to Effective Waste Strategies
The data on solid and plastic waste generated by cities often relies on outdated estimates, lacking a standardised approach for a holistic snapshot. In India, where waste is a pressing issue, the inconsistency in waste data poses acute challenges. To address this, the UN's Habitat's India office introduces the Waste Wise Cities Tool (WaCT) under the "Waste Wise Cities: Tackling Plastic Waste in the Environment" project, focusing on two coastal cities — Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram.
UN-Habitat's Innovative Approach: Tackling Waste in Coastal Cities
The Waste Wise Cities Tool, based on SDG indicator 11.6.1’s parameters, serves as a diagnostic tool for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in coastal cities. Using the tool, authorities conduct surveys and assessments to define priority intervention areas, frame action plans, and develop concept proposals focusing on circular investments and livelihood generation.
Insights from the Ground: Key Findings and Policy Recommendations
In Mangaluru, the assessment reveals that the city produces 391 tonnes of waste per day, with 17% being plastic waste. Policy recommendations include improvements in awareness, decentralised resource recovery, disposal site operations, and circular investments.
In Thiruvananthapuram, a city of nearly a million people, waste is collected for recovery, generating 155,669 tonnes of waste annually, including 27,476 tonnes of plastics. Recommendations involve enhancing waste minimisation, up-cycling interventions, better management of uncollected waste, and introducing circular financing.
Scaling Up: The Project's Potential Impact on National and International Levels
The project not only sets a precedent for evidence-based planning and circular financing in waste management but also emphasises the importance of data inventories and waste characterisation studies on a larger scale. Integrating informal stakeholders and prioritising those affected by plastic pollution are highlighted as key elements of a just and circular transition towards ending plastic pollution.
Policy Considerations: Supporting Informal Stakeholders and Ensuring a Just Transition
On a national level, governments are urged to encourage the integration of informal stakeholders through Extended Producer Responsibility legislation. This includes clear targets for integration within EPR regulations, recognition of the informal sector in waste management policies, capacity building, and skills development. Financial resources must be allocated to ensure fair wages and safeguard human and labour rights, preventing exploitation in the recovery value chain.
A Positive Contribution Towards Sustainability: Aligning the Waste Sector with People and Planet
By implementing inclusive policies and supporting the transition of informal stakeholders, the waste sector can contribute positively to the sustainability of both people and the planet. The Waste Wise Cities project serves as a beacon for evidence-driven, circular approaches, showcasing the potential to make lasting impacts in the global battle against plastic pollution.
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