The volume of waste in the world continues to grow, warns the UN

At this rate, current waste is expected to reach 3,8 billion tonnes by the middle of the century, exceeding the forecasts of the previous report devoted to this theme by the World Bank.

The crisis will be all the more acute as their growth is expected to be particularly marked in countries where their method of treatment remains polluting: landfills (soil pollution, emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases such as methane), incineration without recovery...

Their direct and indirect cost is expected to almost double, reaching $640 billion annually by 2050, estimates the new report produced by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), both a "guide and a call for action". 'action".

In 2020, the direct cost of waste treatment was estimated at 252 billion dollars (361 billion if we include the indirect costs linked to pollution generated by unsuitable installations or management methods).

There is an “urgent need” to begin “a drastic reduction in waste” and to invest in the circular economy, calls on the UN on the occasion of the 6th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, organized this week in Nairobi: "We must act to avoid the worst-case scenario".

Keeping waste “under control”, particularly through better treatment methods, could limit its net annual cost to $270 billion by 2050.

But it is possible to go further, by moving towards a true circular economy, better industrial practices and complete management of residual waste, all of which could even generate a net gain of more than 100 billion dollars annually, argues the report, entitled “Transforming trash into resources”.

“Many rapidly growing economies are struggling under the growing weight of waste,” says UNEP Director Inger Andersen, emphasizing “the key role” of public and private actors who can find there “opportunities to create more sustainable societies.” viable”.