BrazilCircular economy a major opportunity for waste management sector
The majority of waste in countries around the world is not managed effectively – and in order to address the climate emergency, a global, collective efforts is needed to address this mounting issue. That is according to a report from Roland Berger on transformation in the waste management sector.
It goes without saying that environmental degradation is currently one of the most pressing issues at a global scale. If major action is not taken quickly, the climate emergency will escalate and there may not be a way to turn things around.
One bold proposal is to make a general shift in economic strategy from a traditional linear model to what is known as a ‘circular’ model. A circular economy is a sustainable economic model that prioritizes the long-term well-being of humans and nature by reducing waste, recycling, and lengthening the lifespan of products.
That is where waste management comes in. Waste management systems work very differently in different regions and from country to country, but in order to cut back on both environmental harm and loss of economic value, the world needs to come together in transforming waste ecosystems and making them more circular.
While recycling is big in North America, Europe, and Oceania, it is still in its infant stage in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. In these regions, open dumpsites, the worst and most wasteful solid waste solution, are still ubiquitous in certain regions.
If open dumpsites across these regions could be transformed to materials recovery and gas capture facilities, it could generate a recovery of up to 100 billion in material value and cut back on around 1 billion tons of CO2 emissions, according to the Roland Berger analysis.
Other recommendations by the management consultants include raising the waste management level of as many countries as possible to the point where certain standards are widespread – including maximizing material recovery, pushing for government subsidies, three bin systems for rubbish, recycling and organic material, and mechanical recycling, among other things.
These are mid-level standards, in what Roland Berger considers ‘archetype 3’, while advanced nations at the pinnacle of efficient waste management can reach up to level 6. While high level archetypes are obviously most desirable, it is wiser to focus attention in the short term on helping developing countries to advance and, in that way, ‘even the playing field’ somewhat.
“While embracing the principles of the circular economy and decarbonization is imperative for a sustainable future, the level and pace of adoption will vary around the globe,” notes the report. “To have an immediate impact on the global emergency, we need a collective global effort to raise the baseline of effective waste management across all countries.”
The way forward will need to include improved waste management systems where they are needed the most, which would mean pushing for innovation, more funding mechanisms, better recycling infrastructure, effective policies, and education.
Overall, global cooperation that transcends geographical and political boundaries is needed. Though it may seem far off in terms of feasibility, the world could also work towards a global system to monitor recyclable materials and to distribute funds equitably.
“To build a viable future – one in which both economies and the environment thrive – we need to make sustainability our number-one priority,” the report notes. “Improving waste and resource management in individual countries has a vital role to play in this endeavor. But it is only by working collaboratively, as one world, that we will overcome the global emergency.”
