Key Considerations: Community-based waste management programmes often require initial support, guidance and resources from local authorities, NGOs and/or private sector partners.
Regular waste collection is taken for granted in wealthier parts of the world, but there are still more than two billion people living in lower and middle income countries without this basic service.
When there is no such service, people resort to dumping or burning their waste close to where they live. These practices are harmful to public health, local economies and the environment, especially in areas near waterways, which prove to be a convenient receptacle for urban waste.
Community-based waste management programmes offer communities in low and middle-income countries where there is lack of or inadequate municipal waste management services with a community-centric, low-cost and effective waste management system.
Such systems encourage:
Community-based waste management has emerged as a viable and effective approach to address the challenges of waste disposal and recycling. By involving local communities in waste management practices, this decentralized model promotes sustainability, environmental preservation, economic growth, and community empowerment. As more communities adopt this approach, we move closer to building a more sustainable and waste-free future.
