Global Outlook on Holistic

Waste Management & the

Circular Economy

Asfaazam Kasbani & Nasha Lee

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Malaysia

Circular Economy and Market Creation Workshop,

2 August 2016
 Contents

1. Waste Management- Global Status

2. Holistic Waste Management
3. Limits of a linear model
4. Circular Economy Framework
5. Achieving a circular economy- Mainstreaming and Policy Interventions
Waste Management: Global Status
Generation:
MSW generation
per capita is
strongly correlated
with national
income

Figure 1: Waste generation versus income by country

Sources: EMCs Master Country Database (n.p., 2014) using primarily data from the EU, OECD and World Bank; Lawless (2014), prepared for UNEPs
GWMO 2015
Waste Management: Global Status
Generation:
Increasing in all
but high income
regions
Stabilising/
decreasing in
higher-income
countries
Rapid growth in
East Asia and
Pacific until 2030
Rapid growth in
Figure 2: Total MSW Generation by Region Sub-Saharan
Source: Hoornweg et al. (2015).
Africa after 2050
Waste Management: Global Status
Composition:
More organic
material in low
income countries
Paper
proportionate to
income
Plastics no
dependence on
income

Figure 3: Variation in MSW Composition Grouped by Country Income Levels

Source: EMCs Master Country Database (n.p., 2014) using primarily data from the UN and World Bank and
Hoornweg & Bhada-Tata (2012)
 Waste Management: Global Status
Estimate of global Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): 2 billion tonnes per annum. Urban
wastes: 7-10 billion tonnes per annum

2 Bn lack access to solid waste collection

Collection
Median collection coverage-50% in low income-countries

100% controlled disposal rates in high-income countries, 95% in

upper-middle income countries, well below 50% in low-income
countries
Disposal 0% controlled disposal still common in rural areas of many
countries
3 Bn people globally still lack access to controlled waste
disposal facilities

Rates increased among high-income countries in last 30 years

Recycling Informal sector achieves recycling rates of 20-30% for MSW in
lower-income countries

Source: UNEP Global Waste Management Outlook, 2015

Waste Management: Global Status

Global footprint
Secondary Active market for ferrous & non ferrous metals, paper,
Materials Industry plastics & textiles
China a main player

High global activity in new waste processing facilities

Resource Recovery >300 billion USD invested for waste processing projects
from 2013-2015

Source: UNEP Global Waste Management Outlook, 2015

Waste Management & the SDGs
SDGS:
Waste
management is

included explicitly
or implicitly in
more than half of
the SDGs
Strong argument
for holistic waste
management

Explicit Contribution to the SDGs
Goal 11- Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
11.1- By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services, and
upgrade slums
11.6- By 2030, reduce the adverse environmental impact on cities, including by paying special attention
to air quality and municipal and other waste management

Goal 3- Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
3.9- By 2030, substantially reduce the number of illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and
soil, pollution and contamination

Goal 12- Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

12.4- By 2030, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout
their life cycle significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil
12.5- By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
12.a- Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move
towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production

Goal 2- End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote
sustainable agriculture
2.1-By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all peopleto safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year
round
Malaysia: COP 21 and Paris Agreement
INDC 2015: Malaysia intends to reduce its greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 relative
to the emissions intensity of GDP in 2005. This consist of
35% on an unconditional basis and a further 10% is
condition upon receipt of climate finance, technology
transfer and capacity building from developed countries.
This commitment will be subjected to legal obligations under the Paris
Agreement which states:
Parties shall communicate a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) every
five years.
Successive NDCs shall reflect a progressive increase in ambition.
Parties shall pursue domestic mitigation measures and account for their NDCs
through a transparency framework
 BUR: Key Source Analysis of GHG Emissions for 2011, with LULUCF

Current Year Level

Sector Key sources Gas Estimate (Gg Assessment Cumulative
CO2eq) (%)

Energy Industries: Public

Energy CO2 87,885.41 30.28% 30.28%
Electricity

Energy Transport: Road Transportation CO2 41,601.95 14.33% 44.61%

Waste Solid Waste Disposal Sites CH4 31,127.82 10.73% 55.34%

Fugitive Emissions from Oil and

Energy CH4 29,536.66 10.18% 65.52%
Gas Operations

Manufacturing Industries and

Energy CO2 23,003.97 7.93% 73.45%
Construction

Energy Industries: Manufacture of

Solid Fuels & other Energy
Energy CO2 22,920.48 7.90% 81.35%
Industries (Natural Gas
Transformation)
Waste and Climate Change
CO2 from
CO2 from
Combustion
waste
of plastics/
transport
textiles

Nitrous Oxide
Methane from
from Landfills Incineration
Climate of Waste
Change

Solid Waste Disposal sites-3rd highest source of GHG Emissions in

Malaysia for 2011 (>30 thousand Gt CO2 eq)
Circular Economy approach to waste management- Reduction of
15-20% in GHG emissions globally
 Holistic Waste Management

Components of holistic waste management

Figure 4: Components of Holistic Waste Management

(Source: UNEP Global Waste Management Outlook, 2015)
Limits of a Linear Model

Take Make Dispose

Relies on large quantities of cheap, easily accessible materials

and energy
By 2025: Growing world population (1.1 bn) and growing middle
class (3 bn)
24% higher food consumption
47% more packaging
41% more waste
Rising commodity price & increased price volatility
Curbed economic growth
Erosion of ecosystem services: 60% of ecosystems are degraded
or used unsustainably
The Circular Economy- What is it?

Holistic waste management concept that is

restorative and regenerative by design
Make
Replaces end-of-life concept with restoration-
waste becomes food and growth for something
new
Aims to keep products, components and
materials at their highest utility and value at all Enrich Consume
times
Focuses not just on waste, but also on energy,
water, different byproducts, knowledge
Circular Economy Framework
Key Principles:
Design out waste
Differentiate
between
consumable and
durable
components
Eliminate toxic
chemicals
Fuel system with
renewable energy
Figure 5: Circular Economy Framework Systems thinking
(Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2013)
Circular Economy Framework
Studies natures best ideas , imitating these
BIOMIMICRY designs and processes to solve human problems
Eg.: Studying a leaf to invent a better solar cell

Studies material and energy flows through

INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY industrial systems
Based on the approach of creating closed loop
processes where waste is seen as input

Studies materials involved in industrial and

commercial processes and considers them to be
nutrients, of which there are two main
CRADLE-TO-CRADLE categories: technical and biological
Addresses not only materials but energy and
water
 Benefits of a Circular Economy

Economy Businesses Consumer Environment

Substantial Reduced costs Reduced costs Reduction of
material net saving Improved Choice and greenhouse gases
Mitigation of price customer convenience Prevention of land
volatility and interaction and and soil
supply risks loyalty degradation
Job creation and Trigger for
employment innovation
benefits
 Mainstreaming Circular Economy
Requires:
1. Emphasis on design- easy to repair, reuse and upgrade;
sustainable and minimal use of resources, substitution of
hazardous substances
2. Innovative Business Models- leasing, extended guarantee
(spare parts)
3. Innovative Technology- Precision agriculture to reduce waste
in agriculture, information technology to trace material
through the supply chain
4. Policy & Regulation- Example: EU Action Plan for Circular
Economy
Policy Interventions for CE
Education, Integration of circular economy thinking into schools
Information and and university curriculum
Awareness Public communication and info campaign

Collaboration Public-private partnerships

platforms R&D- Material science, biosystems

Financial support- subsidies, capital, financial

guarantees
Support for Tax shift from labour to resources
businesses Excise duty reductions for sustainable products/
services
 Policy Interventions for CE

Mainstreaming resource productivity and circular

economy in Governments strategy and targets
Product regulations- design, extended warranties
Regulatory Waste regulations- Standards and targets for
Framework collection and treatment, extended producer
responsibility
Industry, consumer and trade regulations- E.g.
food safety
Public Public Procurement
Procurement &
Infrastracture Public Investment in Infrastructure
UNDP/GEF Integrated Solid
Waste Management (ISWM) Click to edit Master
title style

Project
Focus on:

1. Policy support for the promotion of integrated

management of municipal solid waste
2. Demonstration of integrated solid waste management
model
3. Enhance awareness and institutional capacity
development

Current status: finalizing PIF for submission to GEF

Thank You