UNEP director warns of 85% surge in solid waste by 2050

Global solid waste is expected to increase by 85% by 2050, stated Inger Andersen, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Report informs.

Speaking at an event themed "Reducing Methane from Organic Waste for Climate Action," held as a part of COP29, Andersen emphasized the urgent need to reduce emissions, with a target of a 30% reduction by 2030. "We need to start this reduction now," she stressed. "We can achieve this goal by turning waste into wealth. By 2050, emissions must be reduced by 55%, but currently, the amount of waste continues to increase."

The director attributed this alarming trend to wasteful societies, the pursuit of so-called prosperity, and losses along the supply chain from agricultural products to consumers. "We must reduce losses from farm to table, and even from table to trash bin," Andersen urged. "It's surprising that a lot of purchased food goes directly from the refrigerator to the trash bin. This situation needs to be reversed."

"That's why today's declaration is important, because it increases attention to reducing methane from organic waste," she concluded.