Solid Waste Management As a Pillar of Urban Change

19 September 2025 /
Blog

Photo by Hermes Rivera on Unsplash
 
Solid waste workers have been critical for propping up our global waste management systems and protecting public health, especially during COVID-19 . With more than 2 billions tonnes of municipal waste generated annually and the increase in single-use plastics from increased safety and health concerns, there is an opportunity to build more resilient systems to help create jobs, close equity gaps, increase environmental protections and forge more efficient, sustainable cities.
 
As cities and national governments consider pandemic recovery opportunities with limited resources, the waste management sector can support long terms goals while also providing sustainable solutions .
 
Better, inclusive solid waste management can not only generate jobs and new businesses but savings and efficiency gains that will help strained budgets for years to come .
Learn about potential solutions in Ede Ijjaz-Vaquez and Silpa Kaza’s blog on WRI’s The City Fix: Better Trash Collection for a Stronger Recovery: Solid Waste Management as a Pillar of Urban Change. 
 
Originally published here. 

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