Separating components of urban solid waste

Disposing safely of hazardous urban solid waste

Context

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.

Implementation

The average cost of separated waste collection in 1994 was around US$240 per tonne; in 1999 this had fallen to $157 per tonne, almost 35% less.

Claim

Separated waste collection cannot be financed merely from the sale of recyclable material. This, on average, covered only 10% of the total cost. However, when environmental and social benefits are included in the equation, the necessary investments are easily justifiable.