Social and Environmental Sustainability of Municipal Solid Waste in the Context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Globally, significant, and continuously growing, volumes of municipal solid waste (MSW) are generated, and are often disposed of in sub-optimal ways resulting in undesired environmental, social and economic impacts. It is estimated that MSW generation by households will reach 3.8 billion tons by 2050 if urgent action is not taken, a 56% increase compared to 2020. Developing scientifically based sustainability metrics is required to give a sound basis for decisions regarding future generation and treatment of MSW.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)  are now widely used as a means of tracking progress towards the more sustainable use of natural and human resources for the betterment of global society and have been applied widely to MSW. This report  considers those SDGs related to MSW from the perspective of the environmental, social and economic impacts indicated as very important by the stakeholders participating in the regional workshop series organised by IEA Bioenergy ‘Task 36 – Material and Energy Valorisation of Waste in a Circular Economy’ and held in South Africa, North America and Europe in 2022 and 2023. Current levels of MSW generation and many of the employed management practices impact on each of the nine SDGs considered in this report.

The report touches upon several potential solutions that exist to address the negative environmental and social impacts relating to MSW generation and management, thereby contributing to the achievement of the SDGs reviewed in this report, including:

• Waste Reduction: Minimising waste generation aligns with achieving many SDGs, reducing pressure on ecosystems by reducing the volumes of MSW to be treated. Community engagement and education are crucial; educating the public on proper waste disposal and its impact on SDGs such as water and sanitation promotes responsible behaviour. Involving communities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the private sector in waste management planning and implementation enhances shared responsibility and sustainable solutions.
• Recycling and Circular Economy: Sustainable MSW management practices such as reuse, recovery and recycling can promote the reuse of resources, reducing the demand for raw materials and mitigating deforestation and ecosystem degradation. Recycling MSW reduces the amount of land needed from landfills and avoids overexploitation and destruction of ecosystems. Circular economy practices such as composting can enhance soil health and reduce the need for chemical fertilisers, promoting sustainable land use.
• Proper Waste Disposal and Treatment: Governments, municipalities, and businesses can contribute to implementation of sustainable MSW management strategies, and appropriate infrastructure to prevent land degradation and contamination of ecosystems. For example, municipalities should ensure that proper landfill design is followed.

Policy and regulatory frameworks are crucial for promoting sustainable MSW management and are related to achieving many of the SDGs considered in this report. Examples include extended producer responsibility schemes which shift financial responsibility for end-of-life disposal to product manufacturers, thereby providing an incentive for improved product design, reuse, and recycling. Further, Implementing policies that prevent the disproportionate siting of landfills in marginalised communities and integrating informal waste pickers into formal systems. Enforcing strict waste disposal regulations and penalties for non-compliance encourages proper practices, while financial incentives for recycling and waste reduction motivate environmentally friendly behaviour.