Let’s Dump Dumpsites – Strengthen Waste Management for Implementing the New Urban Agenda

The event addresses the global challenge of providing people universal access to professional urban waste management services in order to achieve healthy, resource-efficient and climate-friendly cities. It focuses on the questions: how improper waste management affects the environment and human health, what the costs of inaction are and what actions cities can take in this regard. According to the Global Waste Management Outlook (GWMO) of UNEP and ISWA, around 2 billion people still do not have access to waste collection services and the waste of 3 billion people is not managed in an environmentally sound manner. Particularly in low- and middle-income countries, open dumping and burning close to urban centers represent a frequent threat to human health, climate and the marine environment. Open dumping and burning of waste is polluting the air, soils and waterways. ISWA’s “Wasted Health” report in 2015 highlights the various negative health impacts due to pollution by dumpsites. The event seeks to identify what cities need to do and how to do it on the basis of the GWMO’s recommendations. With the concept of circular economy, applying appropriate urban waste management indicators and developing financing schemes (extended producers’ responsibilities for example) to cover the operating costs are some of the critical issues in this regard. ISWA, UNEP/IETC, UN Habitat/UBSB and GIZ will share their know-how and practical experiences with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. The event will start with a panel of five key note speakers, providing input for an informed and interactive discussion with the participants. The diversity of the panel members will ensure a comprehensive coverage of key aspects, including technical know-how, policy issues, financing and cases from cities. Then the event will give the floor to the audience to interact with each other or with the panelists, focusing on city cases.