The increase of plastic waste volumes, and the consequence this has on the planet and people’s health have become alarming issues. At the heart of this issue is not plastic itself, but instead inadequate linear waste systems which lead to plastics ending up in landfills and oceans. For example, it is estimated that only 9%…
We developed the Integrated Sustainable Waste Management (ISWM) approach as a tool to understand the existing and necessary ‘who’, ‘how’ and ‘what’ elements are present and needed in a given [waste management] system. The ISWM approach helps to analyse three important dimensions: We work on understanding each of these dimensions and how they relate to…
The idea underlying the Complementary Local Urban Environmental Services (CLUES) tool is that some cities have reasonably functioning solid waste management services and less functioning faecal sludge management services or vice versa. CLUES asks the questions: what can waste chains learn from one another in any city and what can we learn comparing these on…
This catalogue shows a selected number of machines suitable for the valorisation of plastics into products which can be used as secondary material for the plastics industry. The first chapter gives a short explanation on plastics, the types and how they can be recycled or valorised. Then the various valorisation processes are shown in diagrams…
Being able to access good quality recycling equipment is only one part of the plastic waste management challenge. Alongside this it is vital to equip those responsible for machinery with the skills to safely use, maintain and troubleshoot it. Too often we see a technology first approach being introduced in low- and middle-income countries resulting…
This publication, Solid Waste Management in the World Cities, is the third edition in UN-HABITAT’s State of Water and Sanitation in the World Cities series. It aims to capture waste management trends and draw attention to the importance of waste management, especially regarding its role in reaching the UN Millennium Development Goals. The publication acknowledges…
Start growing your waste business today This practical guide is designed for waste pickers and small-scale dealers and recyclers working with recovered materials. It helps you better understand your operations, organise your work, and increase your income. Built around four simple steps to small-scale entrepreneurship, the guide walks you through: With real-world examples, focused guidance…
To help improve plastic waste management and empower stakeholders across the entire waste value and service chain we have developed a series of ‘how to’ video tutorials which break down the different steps within plastic waste processing. The full list of topics can be found below: These videos were developed by our FINILOOP (financial inclusion and…