Zero waste world

With global municipal solid waste set to nearly double by 2050,¹ the world must rethink and reduce its waste urgently. Reducing waste is in all our interests as it has positive public health, environmental, climate and economic impacts. It is also a question of social justice: municipal solid waste disproportionately affects lower-income and marginalised communities.

Waste is multifaceted, such that we all have a role to play in achieving a waste-free world where wasteful living is a thing of the past. Whether you are a policymaker, business owner or consumer, each of us influences the waste chain through our choices, either in production, consumption, collection, recovery or disposal. And, while responsibility for waste is not shared evenly across the economy or the world, it will take new business models, innovation, effort and collective action to transform practices that allow us to reduce waste at the rate needed to stave off its dire consequences. 

This Special Session will lead audiences to rethink what they know about waste and provide concrete examples of how anyone of us can contribute to achieve this ambitious goal soon. In addition to highlighting innovative solutions and policies to reduce waste generation, the session will also explore the impact of waste by delving into the intersection of waste with, among others, gender, race, informality and consumerism.  Through a highly interactive segment involving the audience, this Special Session will equip attendees with a renewed sensibility around waste and the knowledge and tools needed to advance zero waste practices in our daily lives and strengthen the global movement toward Zero Waste Cities.

A zero waste world is within reach: this session will ask us if we are ready to make it happen.  

Session highlights:

• A waste-inspired fashion show to spark dialogue on the impact of waste from mass production and consumption, with background music produced utilising instruments made from trash.
• Interactive audience segment on attitudes and perceptions towards waste.
• A unique auditory experience where waste is at the centre.
• Concrete actions to contribute to zero waste societies and cities.  
   

¹ UNEP (2024) - Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 (url: https://www.unep.org/resources/global-waste-management-outlook-2024 

Guiding questions

• What are some examples of successful policies that have moved a city closer to zero waste? What challenges were there and what lessons can other cities learn from this experience?
• How can the informal sector help reduce waste and what can cities do to ensure that their work is duly compensated and recognised?
• How does waste reduction relate to Sustainable Development Goals and how is multilevel governance leveraged to enact zero waste solutions?
• What are some of the costs associated with reducing waste and how have they been overcome at the policy, business or consumer level? 

 Key messages

• Achieving zero waste in cities is a win-win for all: local residents benefit from healthier living environments, regional ecosystems benefit from reduced stress and pollution and the global economy benefits from the elimination of harmful impacts caused by uncontrolled greenhouse gas emissions, notably methane.  

• Transitioning to zero waste is both possible and accessible to all: if done right, it represents an opportunity to boost innovation while supporting local economic development and livelihoods.  

• We must revalorise the informal sector which is key to unlocking zero waste transitions in many countries around the world, despite their contributions often being overlooked.  

• Everyone has a role to play in waste reduction: individuals, the private sector, governments, civil society, and more.