The efficiency of resource recovery from solid waste

Wilson, David C.

doi:10.1016/0304-3967(79)90012-x

Cited by 13 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 8 publications

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“…Photo: David C. Wilson, 1983 Evaluating alternative technologies. My thesis turned more towards earlier steps in the MSW planning process, in particular the comparative evaluation of alternative technologies considering both economics (Wilson, 1978(Wilson, , 1979c and energy efficiency (Wilson, 1979b). The resulting textbook (Wilson, 1981;Hansen, 2003) provides a state-of-the-art review of technologies for MSWM as available in the 1970s.…”

Section: The 'Technical Fix'mentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning from the past to plan for the future: An historical review of the evolution of waste and resource management 1970–2020 and reflections on priorities 2020–2030 – The perspective of an involved witness

Wilson

2023

Waste Manag Res

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Improving waste and resource management (WaRM) around the world can halve the weight of plastics entering the oceans, significantly mitigate global heating and contribute directly to 12 of 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). Achieving such results demands understanding and learning from historical evolution of WaRM. The baseline is 1970, prior to environmental legislation. Early steps in the Global North focused on the ‘technical fix’ within strictly enforced legal frameworks, first bringing hazardous wastes and municipal solid wastes (MSW) under control, then gradually ramping up environmental standards. Using modern technologies to the Global South often failed due to institutional and financial constraints. From 1990, focus switched to integrating technical and governance aspects: local institutional coherence, financial sustainability, provider inclusivity, user inclusivity, national legislative and policy framework. The Global North rediscovered recycling, using policy measures to promote segregation at source; this relied on new markets in emerging economies, which had largely disappeared by 2020. The Global South is making progress on bringing wastes under control, but around 2.7 billion people lack access to waste collection, while ~40% of collected MSW is open dumped or burned – a continuing global waste emergency. So, much remains to be done to move further towards a circular economy. Three policy priorities are critical for all countries: access to sustainable financing, rethinking sustainable recycling and worldwide extended producer responsibility with teeth. Extending services to unserved communities (SDG11.6.1) requires a people-centred approach, working with communities to provide both quality services and decent livelihoods for collection and recycling workers.

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