Sustainable Waste Strategies at COP29

COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, concluded with a powerful emphasis on the urgent need for sustainable waste strategies as a critical tool in addressing the climate crisis. The International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) used the summit as a platform to call for nations to embed sustainable waste strategies into their climate commitments, formally known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The discussions highlighted the significant role that circular economy principles and effective waste management can play in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, curbing pollution, and conserving biodiversity. With global waste production projected to rise sharply by 2050, the summit underscored the importance of taking immediate action to re-evaluate and reshape our approach to waste and resource management.

ISWA’s Circular Vision for Waste Management

One of the key outcomes of COP29 was a renewed focus on embedding circular economy principles within national and international waste management policies. These principles prioritise the reuse and recycling of materials to minimise waste generation and reduce the environmental burden of resource extraction. ISWA stressed that effective waste management is not merely an ancillary component of climate policy but a central pillar in combating climate change. Properly managed waste systems have the potential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions while supporting economic development and resource conservation.

Achieving a circular economy will depend on creating viable markets for secondary raw materials—those derived from recycled waste—to replace primary materials in various industries. ISWA’s discussions recognised that this requires stringent quality standards, competitive pricing mechanisms, and supportive regulatory frameworks to incentivise their use. While the groundwork laid at COP29 provides a foundation for these changes, industry collaboration will be crucial in turning policy ambitions into practical realities.

Innovative platforms in the waste sector, such as AfvalHandel.nl, have already begun to facilitate the transition towards a circular economy by connecting waste producers with recyclers and industries that need high-quality secondary materials. By enabling these connections, platforms like WasteTrade help ensure that recycled materials meet the standards required to compete with primary resources, fostering sustainable industry practices.

Organic Waste Management: Methane Emissions

Another significant focus of COP29 was the management of organic waste, which contributes significantly to methane emissions—a potent greenhouse gas. ISWA emphasised the urgent need for nations to adopt strategies that reduce methane emissions by improving the processing of organic waste through composting, anaerobic digestion, and other controlled methods.

The summit highlighted how tackling methane emissions from organic waste could yield immediate climate benefits by slowing near-term warming. This requires technical innovations as well as industry alignment to ensure organic waste is diverted from unmanaged decomposition processes, such as open dumpsites, to sustainable management facilities.

Global Framework for Waste Management

One of ISWA’s most ambitious proposals at COP29 was the establishment of a global framework for waste management. Such a framework would create consistent international standards for waste collection, recycling, and disposal, encouraging countries to transition from outdated practices like open dumping to sanitary landfills and advanced recycling systems. This approach aligns with findings from the Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 (GWMO), which predicts a staggering 77% increase in waste production by 2050 if current practices remain unchanged.

A unified approach to waste management would enable nations to collaborate more effectively, sharing resources and knowledge while optimising waste processing on a regional scale. This would also facilitate cross-border waste transactions, ensuring that materials can be handled sustainably even when local capacity is limited.

Organisations operating within the waste sector have an essential role in supporting these frameworks. Companies like WasteTrade, which promote international standards for waste transactions, are key to ensuring that waste is managed responsibly and efficiently across borders. By facilitating compliance with environmental regulations and enabling seamless trade of secondary materials, WasteTrade exemplifies how industry actors can align with ISWA’s vision for a global approach to waste management.

Policy and Regulation

For ISWA’s vision to succeed, strong policy and regulatory support will be critical. The discussions at COP29 highlighted the need for legislative measures that incentivise businesses to adopt sustainable practices, invest in recycling infrastructure, and prioritise the use of secondary raw materials. Regulations that enforce quality standards for recycled materials and promote environmental accountability can help create a marketplace where circular practices are not just encouraged but expected.

While regulatory changes can be challenging, they provide the structural support needed to shift industries towards sustainable practices. For example, policies that make secondary raw materials more economically attractive than their primary counterparts can significantly accelerate the adoption of recycled materials in manufacturing and construction.

WasteTrade operates within this complex regulatory environment, assisting businesses in navigating compliance requirements while promoting best practices in waste management. By advocating for policies that support sustainable waste handling, WasteTrade not only contributes to the broader goals of ISWA but also helps its users align with emerging regulatory frameworks.

Reflections on COP29

The outcomes of COP29 reaffirm the urgent need for a global shift in how we manage waste. ISWA’s call for sustainable strategies, circular practices, and unified frameworks encapsulates a vision that transforms waste from an environmental liability into an economic and ecological opportunity. Achieving this vision, however, requires collective action from policymakers, industry leaders, and waste management professionals alike.

Platforms like WasteTrade provide a model for how industry players can actively support this transformation. By enabling the responsible trading of waste materials, supporting compliance with environmental standards, and fostering the adoption of circular principles, WasteTrade aligns its operations with ISWA’s mission for sustainable waste management.

As the waste sector reflects on COP29, it is evident that addressing waste is no longer just about disposal—it is about creating a future where resources are used responsibly, emissions are reduced, and environmental boundaries are respected. The progress made at COP29 offers a foundation for this future, but the work of turning commitments into action has only just begun.