Counting our way to Zero Waste: How waste metrics will drive global change

As we mark International Day of Zero Waste - a critical milestone for rethinking our relationship with production, consumption and waste - we want to encourage nations to establish robust systems to collect data on waste generation and treatment. Such systems are essential for transforming aspirations for a “Zero Waste future” into meaningful action.

Understanding the scale of our waste problem

Every year, humanity generates a staggering 2.1 to 2.3 billion tons of municipal solid waste, opens in a new window, the equivalent weight of more than 10 million blue whales, and a number that continues to grow at an alarming rate. In fact, solid waste generation is projected to surge to 3.8 billion tons by 2050, opens in a new window. 

The inequality in waste management infrastructure is equally concerning, with approximately 2.7 billion people worldwide lacking access to basic waste collection services,, opens in a new window. Of all municipal solid waste generated, just over half (61%  is processed in controlled facilities).

Waste inflicts devastating consequences across our planet's ecosystems and communities. On land, improper waste disposal contaminates soil and groundwater with toxic leachates, rendering agricultural areas unproductive and threatening drinking water supplies for millions, opens in a new window. Air quality suffers when waste is incinerated without proper controls, releasing harmful dioxins and particulate matter that contribute to respiratory illnesses. Beyond environmental damage, waste pollution exacerbates social inequalities, as marginalised communities disproportionately bear the burden of proximity to landfills and informal dumpsites.  

Mismanaged plastic waste severely pollutes marine environments, with an estimated 11 million metric tons entering our oceans annually, opens in a new window, forming vast garbage patches and fragmenting into microplastics that infiltrate food chains. Throughout the lifecycle, scientists consider plastic a hazard to human health, opens in a new window. The economic toll is equally staggering, opens in a new window, with economies suffering a loss of tourism revenue, fisheries collapse, healthcare costs, and the potential value of recoverable materials.

But what does a Zero Waste future mean? 

One of the most widely cited definitions of “Zero Waste” comes from Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA), opens in a new window: “the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health”. 

In short, Zero Waste implies a circular approach to a resource’s entire lifecycle. 

The concept of Zero Waste varies significantly across sectors, with different opportunities and challenges in each. It is critical to acknowledge that each sector will produce different types of waste; some are easier to avoid while others are more challenging. See examples listed in the table below.

While the public generally accepts the above definition of “Zero Waste”, the international community is yet to agree, with some organisations and governments interpreting it as a complete shift away from the production of any waste. Others have chosen to focus on “Zero Avoidable Waste” in acknowledgement of the challenges associated with potentially “Unavoidable Waste”, which may make it impossible to remove all waste.

Similarly, the debate surrounding what is “waste” continues to evolve. For example, if material is incinerated in a waste-to-energy plant, does this align with the Zero Waste goal?

Some zero waste advocates argue that incineration (even with energy recovery) doesn't align with zero waste principles because it ultimately destroys resources that could potentially be reused or recycled. Others take a more pragmatic view that waste-to-energy is preferable to landfilling, open dumping and open burning.

What can governments and organisations?

Until there is an internationally agreed formal definition for Zero Waste, it seems sensible for individual governments/organisations to:

• Agree on the scope of which waste streams will be reduced to zero within their jurisdiction.

• Identify waste streams that are not in scope and ensure there is a clear technical justification.

• Agree how waste will be monitored to track progress against this target.

• Determine what data will be collected, how will it be collected and who will be responsible for the data collection and reporting. 

Data: the key to achieving Zero Waste goals 

Data forms the backbone of any meaningful strategy to manage plastic and/or waste.

For “Zero Waste” goals, data is needed to

• Determine the magnitude of the waste problem and current challenges to management,

• Develop ambitious but achievable management plans, including national action plans,

• Accurately measure the impact of efforts to address waste (economic, environmental and social impacts) and identify the most impactful interventions across product lifecycles, and

• Report on the findings to share progress with the local, national and international community 

For example, when municipalities analyse waste composition accurately, they can implement targeted collection programs that divert materials from landfills and incineration to more favourable treatments.

Standardised waste metrics create transparency that drives accountability throughout value chains, leading to improvement across both public and private sectors while fostering international cooperation on shared challenges. For example, when countries track materials from production through consumption to disposal, they can identify resource-intensive sectors and implement policies that increase resource productivity. 

Data also helps bridge the formal and informal waste economies, ensuring that waste management solutions build upon existing circular practices rather than displacing them, which is essential for creating truly sustainable and socially just Zero Waste systems.

Importantly, data also ensures more equitable waste policies that recognise the potential impacts on different socioeconomic groups and the contribution of the informal sector. 

The Path Forward 

To accelerate progress towards Zero Waste, countries must invest in robust waste data systems characterised by: 

1. Inclusivity: Formally recognising and integrating informal waste collectors into data collection frameworks while ensuring they benefit from this integration.
   
2. Equitability: Ensuring equitable treatment for all regarding the benefits and burdens of waste management systems, with data collection designed to identify and address environmental justice concerns and socioeconomic disparities in waste impacts. 
3. Standardisation: harmonised definitions, methodologies and reporting protocols must be adopted to overcome challenges for international waste management and creating meaningful, comprehensive and transparent data collection. See further examples of data standardisation frameworks in the PDF below. It’s important to note that despite these efforts, gaps remain in creating a universal standardised Zero Waste approach.

Conclusion: Measuring Our Way to Progress

The International Day of Zero Waste serves as a reminder that reducing waste requires not just aspiration but measurement.

By investing in comprehensive waste data systems, countries can develop the required policies, technology and infrastructure to reduce waste globally.

Data can transform the abstract concept of Zero Waste into concrete, achievable targets and enable the tracking of progress toward a more circular, sustainable future.