Background and inset photos source: Stratus Consulting

Integrated Solid Waste Management: Key Concepts and Benefits

The Challenges of Solid Waste Management population growth) on waste management, and contribute
numerous benefits, including to:
The immense financial, technological, and capacity demands
of managing solid waste make proper municipal solid waste • Human health. ISWM can help improve air quality (e.g., by
(MSW) management a significant challenge for many cities. reducing open garbage burning) and water quality (e.g., by
This challenge is complicated by a number of external managing leachate from open dumps and landfills), and
stressors. For example, economic growth leads to increased reduce the spread of disease (e.g., by improving pest
consumption and waste generation. In addition, economic management).
growth often leads to consumption of new types of goods • Climate change and the environment. A major benefit
such as electronics that are difficult to recycle. Population of ISWM is the mitigation of emissions of short-lived
growth also leads to increased waste generation. In addition, climate pollutants (SLCPs) that have a warming influence
this growth often occurs in densely populated areas of cities, on the climate, including methane from landfills and black
which can exacerbate difficulties in collecting waste. carbon from open burning. In addition, ISWM reduces
the environmental impacts that result from poor waste
Integrated Solid Waste Management: Addressing management practices (e.g., land degradation from dump
Challenges and Achieving Benefits sites and landfills).
• The economy. Waste management can be one of
Integrated solid waste management (ISWM) involves
the most expensive aspects of local government
carefully evaluating local needs and conditions to determine
operations. ISWM can help reduce costly inefficiencies
the most suitable options for all aspects of waste
(e.g., overconsumption of waste collection vehicle fuel),
management, including generation, segregation, collection,
encourage the development of new markets (e.g., for
transportation, sorting, recovery, treatment, and disposal.
energy and compost), and lead to job creation.
Because it is based on local needs and conditions, ISWM
• Social benefits. ISWM results in other benefits to society,
can be an effective policy tool in all cities, regardless of
including reducing bad odors and improving the quality of
their level of development and existing waste management
life for marginalized groups, such as the informal recycling
practices. Through careful planning, ISWM can help mitigate
sector (i.e., "pickers").
the influence of external stressors (e.g., economic and
 Developing an ISWM Plan: Key Considerations
Resources Developing an ISWM plan requires careful assessment of numerous issues. Key
considerations when developing an ISWM plan include:
CCAC MSW Knowledge Platform • Analyze weaknesses, strengths, and capacities. Completing an analysis of the weaknesses,
http://waste.ccac-knowledge.net strengths, and capacities of their waste management activities will help cities identify the most
suitable waste management options and effectively and efficiently implement an ISWM plan.
• Conduct triple-bottom line assessment. A robust assessment of the economic,
United Nations Environment environmental, and social impacts of waste management options can help inform decisions
Programme (UNEP) – ISWM Portal about which options to pursue.
http://www.unep.org/gpwm/ • Consider all aspects of waste. To maximize the efficiency of a waste management
FocalAreas/IntegratedSolid program, an ISWM plan should account for all aspects of waste, including generation,
WasteManagement/tabid/56457/ segregation, collection, transportation, sorting, recovery, treatment, and disposal.
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• Involve stakeholders.
Involving all stakeholders,
International Solid Waste
especially the public, Hierarchy of Solid Waste Management Options
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anaerobic digestion, thermal
Waste management treatment, and landfill gas)
options should be based on Disposal
local needs and conditions. (i.e., landfilling or
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• Coordinate with the national government. National governments play a key role in waste
UNEP – Developing Integrated management, especially in establishing and enforcing waste management policies. Cities
Solid Waste Management Plans: should work closely with national governments to clarify their respective roles and identify
Training Manual opportunities for mutual support.
http://www.unep.org/ietc/ • Identify sustainable sources of funding. An ISWM plan must include reliable sources of
InformationResources/ funding (e.g., user fees) to sustain waste programs. Incorporating the private sector into
Publications/tabid/56265/ waste management activities can offer a way to reduce the costs of managing waste while
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Taking Action: The Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-lived
For more information Climate Pollutants
on the CCAC The Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC) is a
partnership of governments, intergovernmental organizations, the environmental community,
Visit the CCAC web site: and other groups that is dedicated to catalyzing rapid reductions in SLCPs to protect human
www.unep.org/ccac health and the environment now, and to slow the rate of climate change within the first half
of this century.
Contact the CCAC Secretariat:
ccac_secretariat@unep.org One of the CCAC’s focal areas is the Mitigating SLCPs from Municipal Solid Waste Initiative,
where the CCAC works to enable cities, with the support of their regional and national
governments, to move along the waste hierarchy in a coordinated and cohesive manner in
order to mitigate methane and black carbon emissions. Information on actions that cities
can take to improve waste management and reduce SLCP emissions is available through the
CCAC MSW Knowledge Platform (http://waste.ccac-knowledge.net).