750 deaths related to landfills were registered within the first half of 2016, and in some parts of the world, including India, Indonesia and Philippines, the health impacts of landfills are worse than malaria.

4 billion tonnes of municipal waste is generated annually and a third of this is simply dumped.

Unmanaged waste finds its way into rivers and oceans, being burnt in the open, or littering the streets and byways of townships and cities. In a globalized and interconnected world, any pandemic related to landfills can easily become a global one.

The world’s open landfills must be closed, for the health and wellbeing of not just the hundreds of millions directly affected by this shameful and polluting practice, but for the future of everyone on this planet. Landfills are causing a global health emergency, and there is an urgent need for a concerted international response.

Financing alternatives to landfills will substantially reduce climate change emissions, stem the tide of plastic that is destroying our oceans and improve the health and wellbeing of everyone on the planet.

By replacing all open landfills with safe and sensible alternatives for managing waste, dependent communities will also benefit from improved education, training and employment. A world without landfills will be a huge step towards the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that have been agreed by 193 nations.

Now is the time to work together, to protect people’s livelihoods and the environment they depend upon.

#socent #circulareconomy #zerowastecities

Source — http://www.iswa.org