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…
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…
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%…
The aim of this publication is to disseminate lessons learned from the support of three entrepreneurs in Africa. This includes Oumar in Mali, Kevin in Kenya, and Mamadou in Senegal–our plastic waste recycling heroes. We analyse their business in detail: Why are they successful and what challenges did they encounter and still need to overcome?…
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 gender guide was designed for project development and implementation and was financed by the Regional Initiative for Inclusive Recycling (IRR) whose objective is to integrate informal recyclers from Latin America and the Caribbean into formal recycling markets. The guide is a tool that: supports the opening of spaces for the participation of women in…
Municipal solid waste (MSW) continues to be a severe problem in India. Increasing quantities of waste are becoming increasingly complex with new types of waste, such as the fast growing quantity of plastics. Along the entire service and value chain, from the collection of waste to its final disposal, many Indian cities are struggling to…
Opportunities for job creation This report maps and analyses plastic waste value chains in the cities of Bamako, Koulikoro, Kayes, Gao in Mali. A process which enables the identification of bottlenecks hampering the functioning of the solid waste value chain and activities with the highest potential for job creation. This study was carried out as…
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…
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…