NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT AND THE PATH TOWARDS A ZERO WASTE FUTURE

While considerable progress has been made in waste management technologies, the increasing volume and complexity of waste demand continuous efforts and transformation of the current system. There is a pressing need for collaborative action among governments, businesses, and individuals to mitigate waste generation, improve recycling rates, and use various technologies to reduce waste volume. Emerging concepts such as the zero waste (ZW) and circular economy are gaining importance in addressing these challenges. These approaches focus on minimizing waste by reducing consumption, reusing materials, and efficiently recycling or composting the residual waste. Although the ZW concept is still in early stage, it has gained momentum across communities, cities, industries, and countries, aiming at attaining ZW goals. However, due to the lack of a universally acceptable measure to evaluate success of various ZW efforts, the concept has been marred with considerable confusion mainly due to generators using self-selected, random criteria. The Zero Waste Index (ZWI), developed by the author, is a quantitative measure of progress in implementing ZW principles, demonstrating its potential to conserve natural resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Considering the challenging issues associated with safe waste management, the future lies in transforming our systems to embrace the circular economy model, which facilitates the transition towards a ZW future. The presentation highlights the importance of adopting such an approach and uses the example of four world cities to illustrate ZWI ranking. By embracing the principles of ZW, we can make significant strides toward a sustainable waste management system and a waste-free future to ensure a healthier planet for future generations.