Carbon-Neutrality

Municipal solid waste contributes to the generation of GHGs, mainly methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The amount of GHG emissions from waste is correlated with the quantity of waste and depends on the waste composition and the waste management system in place. Large waste volumes and inadequate waste management systems lead to higher emissions in the atmosphere. In the past many decades, the quantities of waste generated globally have been increasing at an alarming pace while the state of waste management continues to lag in capacity and effectiveness.

The Madrid 360 Environmental Sustainability Strategy, presented in September 2019, already pointed out in its introduction that “the compelling need to curb climate change led the European Union to establish clearer and more ambitious limits on gas emissions in cities”.