The production of solid municipal waste, which amounted to 2.3 billion tons in 2023, is projected to increase to 3.8 billion tons by 2050. In 2020, the global direct costs of waste management were estimated at 252 billion dollars. Still, when considering the hidden costs of pollution, poor health, and climate change due to improper waste disposal, the total cost rose to 361 billion dollars. Without urgent action, by 2050, this cost could nearly double to 640.3 billion dollars. These concerning figures come from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report titled Global Waste Management Outlook 2024.
Modeling in the report suggests that bringing waste under control through prevention and waste management measures could limit net annual costs by 2050 to 270.2 billion dollars, thereby avoiding further economic and environmental damage.
As part of global efforts to achieve the Zero Waste concept, also known as WasteZero, the primary goal is to reduce waste generation itself. Although reuse and recycling significantly contribute to sustainability and pollution reduction, these processes still require additional resources, such as energy and water. Since completely eliminating waste production remains an unattainable goal for now, it is essential to focus on developing new technologies and improving existing waste management methods, including recycling and reuse.
The modern world faces numerous challenges, but simultaneously, it opens the door to innovations that make waste management more efficient and sustainable. Technological advancements such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and bio-innovations are making the waste industry more effective and environmentally friendly, laying the foundation for better resource management and a reduced ecological footprint.
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Innovations Around the World
Below are several inspiring examples from different parts of the world, demonstrating that implementing a circular economy and sustainable waste management is an entirely achievable goal through innovation and the development of advanced technologies.
At the beginning of every waste management process is waste sorting, which is crucial for achieving high recycling rates and reducing landfill waste. In this regard, technological innovations, such as automated systems based on artificial intelligence and robotics, play a key role in optimizing this process. Given the complexity and diversity of waste content, modern technologies enable faster, more precise, and more environmentally friendly waste sorting solutions.
Artificial intelligence and digitalization are gradually being integrated into these processes, recognizing materials and optimizing sorting without human intervention. One sorting technology also being implemented is LiDAR, which uses light pulses to precisely identify and classify materials, providing essential information for subsequent sorting steps.
One example of waste sorting innovation comes from Finland. Developed by the Finnish company ZenRobotics, this technology combines AI and robotics in recycling plants to extract high-purity valuable materials from different types of waste, such as construction and municipal waste. The robots recognize and sort waste based on shape, weight, and size. In addition to improving recycling efficiency and reducing costs, this innovation also increases worker safety, as robots take over heavy and hazardous tasks. The high-purity materials obtained through this process can be reused and transformed into new, high-quality secondary raw materials.
Although large sorting and recycling facilities are essential for effective waste management, there are also ways to contribute from our homes. Bio-waste is one type of waste that can be managed at the household level through specialized composting bins. These small technological innovations allow kitchen waste to be processed into valuable organic fertilizer.
One company that has taken this a step further is HomeBiogas from Israel. They have developed a technology that converts organic waste into biogas. Their system, designed for households with backyards, uses anaerobic digestion, a process in which organic materials break down in the absence of oxygen, producing biogas that can be used for cooking.
Prepared by Katarina Vuinac
The story was published in the Energy portal Magazine CIRCULAR ECONOMY
