Do you know that in the year 2023, the world generated a stupefying 2.1 billion tons of municipal solid waste (MSW)? Well, that’s exactly what a report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) says.
Let’s think about it for a moment. A year has 31,536,000 seconds. So, 2.1 billion tons of waste in a year means that in every second that passed in 2023, 66.6 tons of waste was generated. That’s a lot, right?
And get this: That amount of waste is bound to be 70% more by the time 2050 rolls around if the current practices carry on!
But here’s the saddest part of it: At least 33% of the waste generated is mismanaged. That’s AT LEAST 693 million tons of trash, posing detrimental effects not only to the planet but also its inhabitants.
In this article, we examine the top 10 waste disposal problems the world is currently facing. Even more, for every challenge, we will suggest a practical solution that addresses it. Let’s dive right in!
1. Landfill Overfilling
The first main problem we’re facing at a global scale when it comes to waste disposal is that of landfills reaching their capacity. As the urban population grows and consumerism increases, the amount of waste we’re sending to the landfills is on the rise, overwhelming the available landfills.
When landfills overflow, there are numerous effects. For one, they release toxic leachate, which can easily seep into the soil, contaminating the groundwater sources. Secondly, overwhelmed landfills can release methane gas, a notorious greenhouse gas whose warming power is up to 80 times that of CO2 over a 20-year period.
And, of course, mismanaged landfills are an appealing spot for rodents, posing the threat of spreading deadly diseases to nearby communities.
Solution:
To curb this problem, governments have to work hand in hand with the people to promote waste-reduction strategies. Encouraging practices like composting, repurposing, and waste-to-energy conversion can significantly minimize the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
2. Plastic pollution
Plastic remains one of the most widely used materials around the world. In fact, take a look around you. Chances are that there’s something made of plastic. That’s because plastic is cheap, versatile, and flexible enough to be molded into various shapes.
However, with this growing plastic usage comes an increasing amount of plastic waste. Currently, the annual plastic waste production is at 350 million tons, and Statistica predicts this amount will triple to a staggering billion metric tons by 2060, assuming the current generation trends continue.
But sadly, plastic isn’t like the majority of other types of waste, and that’s because it doesn’t biodegrade. It only breaks down into smaller beads called microplastics, and achieving that alone takes at least 500 years.
The negative side of these microplastics is that they can infiltrate the soil, water, and even air. Notably, these microplastics have been a significant threat to aquatic life that more often mistake them for food.
Solution:
More stringent regulations on plastic production, more plastic recycling facilities, and encouraging the use of biodegradable materials can mitigate the current plastic concerns. Some countries like Kenya, Rwanda, and Bangladesh have banned single-use plastic bags, which is a step in managing the plastic problem.
3. Electronic Waste (E-Waste)
The current technological revolution has helped bring solutions to some of the problems we’ve had for many years. It has made life easier on almost all fronts, and the ride has so far been incredible.
But one caveat is that technological advancement has also introduced a new type of waste, electronic waste, or, most popularly, e-waste. The quicker technology advances, the more older electronic devices like computers, appliances, smartphones, and other devices become obsolete, prompting most of us to dispose of them.
When disposed of inappropriately, these electronic devices can release the toxic substances they contain (including lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants), posing dangerous health and environmental risks.
Solution:
We should have proper e-waste recycling programs to help manage the e-waste we produce. Recycling facilities should have the means to extract valuable materials from e-waste and an appropriate way to dispose of the hazardous substances contained in them.
In addition, when purchasing, we should prioritize versatile appliances. That will minimize our future waste and save us space and money. And, of course, we should always think about repairing and refurbishing rather than disposing of and acquiring new electronic equipment.
4. Improper Waste Collection
Despite the massive amount of waste we produce, it’s sad that we still don’t have a proper way to collect it — especially in developing countries. It’s not rare to see waste scattered across the streets, open spaces, and water bodies.
In most cases, this situation is caused by inadequate funding, lack of proper infrastructure, mismanagement of public funds by the respective leaders, and inadequate public awareness of the importance of proper waste management.
This waste generally makes the place unsightly, attracts pests, makes the living conditions of the affected communities unsanitary, and, even worse, attracts the outbreak of diseases in such areas.
Solution:
Governments and NGOs should invest in educating the public on the importance of properly managing their waste. The government should consider developing infrastructure to streamline the waste collection process.
Community-driven waste management programs, like participating in clean-ups and waste recycling, can also go a long way in alleviating this problem. And, of course, the public should vote in leaders thoughtfully to avoid the embezzlement of public funds.
5. Illegal Dumping
Illegal dumping, sometimes called fly-tipping, occurs when individuals dispose of waste in undesignated areas like forests, roads, and waterways.
Most people who do this aim to avoid paying disposal costs, although in some cases, the practice is fueled by the lack of accessible waste management facilities.
Illegal dumping comes with numerous dangers, including soil, air, and water contamination, increased risk of disease outbreaks, and the disruption of local ecosystems. It also reduces the aesthetic value of a place and decreases the property values of the affected areas.
Solution:
Governments should provide accessible waste management facilities to the citizens. Where these facilities are already in place, the government should enforce strict penalties, fines, and improved monitoring and surveillance to catch offenders.
Public education on the consequences of illegal dumping should also be conducted, combined with community cleanup initiatives.
6. Waste Incineration Pollution
Waste incineration is a common practice used to reduce the amount of waste in landfills and, in some countries, generate electricity. The process involves burning hazardous waste in an incinerator, which is a type of furnace designed for burning dangerous materials in a chamber.
The heating up of the incinerator can last for a specific period depending on the kind of waste and is a safe way to get rid of dangerous waste when the process is done under proper conditions and monitoring.
Unfortunately, incineration processes often don’t meet the safety standards needed to combat the release of harmful toxins into the environment, making it a health hazard. The untreated emissions can cause respiratory issues and increase the chances of developing cancers, especially in people near incineration centers.
Solution:
The government should consider investing in modern incineration equipment featuring cleaner filtration systems. Doing this will prevent the release of toxic emissions into the environment, making incineration entirely safe.
In addition, there should be stringent regulations and monitoring of incineration plants to ensure that they are in proper condition and that combustion continues as expected.
7. Dead Zones from Landfills
A dead zone from a landfill happens when leachate, which basically is toxic liquid waste from the decomposing matter in the landfill, leaks into nearby water sources, causing algal blooms that, in turn, use up the water’s oxygen, consequently decimating aquatic life.
Plus, these dead zones are a long-term public health risk, as the contamination can eventually radiate to the nearby agricultural lands and residential areas.
Solution:
We should have waste management strategies focusing on reducing landfill dependency by encouraging recycling, repurposing, and composting. Modern landfill engineering practices, such as lining the landfills with impermeable materials, can also prove effective at minimizing toxic seepage.
8. Hazardous Waste Mismanagement
Most households and businesses inadvertently discard hazardous materials like batteries, medications, and electronic waste in regular trash bins. This often leads to a host of problems, including soil contamination, air pollution, and, depending on the type of waste, the poisoning of the water sources.
E-waste, particularly, contains metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium, which, when not managed correctly, pose deadly health and environmental risks. Inadequate regulations, lack of proper enforcement mechanisms, and knowledge gap among the public on appropriate ways of handling hazardous waste have been the main driving forces of this problem.
Solution:
The government should conduct public teaching programs to educate the public on how to handle toxic waste. This should be complemented with strict hazardous waste disposal regulations. Industries must also be mandated to follow the right waste treatment and disposal methods to minimize contamination risks.
9. Ocean Dumping
Dumping waste into the ocean is another common problem facing waste disposal. Plastics, industrial waste, sewage, and other types of waste enter the ocean through direct dumping or run-off from land-based sources, causing devastating consequences to marine life.
Waste, particularly plastic, is becoming a major ocean pollutant, with recent stats suggesting that each year, 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic find their way into seas and oceans — according to UNESCO Ocean Literacy!
That accounts for 80% of all the ocean dumping in a year. Even worse, it’s estimated that if strict measures aren’t adopted, plastic pollution in the oceans will likely outweigh all fish by 2050.
Solution:
Strengthening international ocean dumping regulations and improving enforcement mechanisms can immensely reduce ocean dumping. Businesses and industries must also adopt sustainable waste management practices to mitigate ocean dumping. And, of course, communities should embrace and be actively involved in coastal cleanup programs.
10. Insufficient Waste Management Infrastructure
As the consumerism surge drives more waste generation, we, by default, expect waste management infrastructure to also grow proportionately to cater to this increase. But that has not been the case, often causing the current waste management facilities to be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of waste generated.
That has resulted in low waste recycling ratios, improper waste disposal, and burning of waste, consequently contaminating the natural ecosystems.
Solution:
Governments should allocate more budget to waste management services to cater to the increasing waste generation. With enough waste management facilities, modern recycling equipment, and well-equipped landfills, waste management can become effective.
Conclusion
How we dispose of our waste can have far-reaching consequences for the environment, economy, and even health. Unfortunately, we haven’t come to a point where, as a planet, we can be proud of how we manage our waste.
Actually, this area has been encompassed by numerous challenges that must be addressed with urgency. By enforcing sustainable waste management practices alongside other practical solutions discussed here, we can effectively and efficiently handle waste, minimizing its devastating effects on the planet and its inhabitants.
