When do expenses become wastage

The report notes that municipal solid waste management is the most important service a city provides. In low-income countries, MSW is often the largest single budget item for cities, and one of the largest employers.

A city that cannot effectively manage its waste is rarely able to manage more complex services such as health, education, or transportation. Improving MSW is one of the most effective ways of strengthening overall municipal management. There is a direct correlation between the per capita level of income in cities and the amount of waste per capita that is generated. In general, as a country urbanizes and populations become wealthier, the consumption of inorganic materials e. The challenges surrounding municipal solid waste are going to be enormous, on a scale of, if not greater than, the challenges we are currently experiencing with climate change.

This report should be seen as a giant wake-up call to policy makers everywhere. The authors of the report say an integrated solid waste management plan is needed in cities to approach solid waste in a comprehensive manner.

Key to such a plan is consultation and input from all stakeholders, including citizen groups and those working on behalf of the poor and the disadvantaged. Public health and environmental protection aspects of any such plan are also critical. The report also spells out policy recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions , many of which emanate from inefficient solid waste management practices. The report says that a number of practical approaches could be applied in most cities, including:.

View Metrics. Special Communication. William H. Jose F. Research Letter. Edward W. Murphy, MD; Richard W. Besdine, MD.

John W. Urwin, MD; Peter J. Navathe, MD, PhD. Ubel, MD; J. Audio Author Interview Subscribe to Podcast. The information collected will help you pinpoint the waste reduction areas on which to focus. Tracking the amount of recyclables and wastes hauled from your building gives you an understanding of how your waste management program is performing — data on the amount of waste produced and recycling rate.

However, to gain insights on how to improve, a waste assessment is critical. A waste assessment will provide you with important data to discover opportunities for waste reduction. A waste assessment or audit is a systematic review of your building and its operations to identify the quantity and composition of materials in your waste stream. Some local governments and waste haulers offer free waste audits to businesses. Use your waste assessment results to inform your waste reduction activities.

For example, you might find there is a high percentage of contamination in your recycling stream, indicating the need for improved communication and education about what should go in the recycling bin. Or the results could highlight that participants are throwing out a large percentage of recyclables in the trash.

After reviewing the results of the waste assessment, consider holding a team brainstorming session to identify potential waste reduction activities. List your most promising options and evaluate them in terms of feasibility and how they align with your goals. When analyzing and selecting your activities:. Waste prevention and recycling programs can be significantly improved by actively engaging and educating employees and identifying markets for your recovered materials.

Waste prevention offers the greatest environmental benefits and cost savings. Recycling saves energy, helps keep materials out of landfills and incinerators, and provides raw materials for the production of new products. When waste cannot be prevented, recycling is the next best option. Recycling is more than extending the life of landfills.

It is about making the best use of the resources we have available and conserving those resources for future generations. It is about conserving water, energy, land and raw materials.