Feature Stories

What is International Day of Zero Waste?

The International Day of Zero Waste, observed for the first time on 30 March 2023, aims to raise awareness of the importance of zero waste and responsible consumption and production practices and urban waste management, support the societal shift towards circularity and their contribution to achieving sustainable development.

The International Day of Zero Waste highlights both the importance of bolstering waste management globally and the need to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns. 

Current Waste Crisis

" This issue of waste pollution poses a significant threat to human well-being and economic prosperity, exacerbating the crises of climate change and nature and biodiversity loss. Without urgent action, annual municipal solid waste generation is projected to reach 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050."

 

The planet is being driven towards destruction by humanity's unsustainable production and consumption practices.

Every year, households, small businesses, and public service providers generate between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tons of municipal solid waste. However, global waste management services are insufficiently equipped to handle this challenge, leaving 2.7 billion people without access to waste collection services, while only 61–62 per cent of municipal solid waste is managed in controlled facilities. This issue of waste pollution poses a significant threat to human well-being and economic prosperity, exacerbating the crises of climate change and nature and biodiversity loss. Without urgent action, annual municipal solid waste generation is projected to reach 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050.

In 2022, Thailand generated 25.70 million tons of solid waste, with 7.1 million tons improperly managed. The increase in online food delivery services and the shift towards online shopping have contributed greatly to this surge in waste, particularly in the form of plastic packaging and single-use plastics. With  around 2,380 dumpsites, the country faces significant environmental threats, as research suggests these dumpsites and landfills could hold up to 187.9 million tons of plastic waste. Forty percent of dumpsites are near critical areas like watersheds and coastlines, highlighting the urgent need for improved waste management.

Mismanagement of waste is not only harming human health and the environment but is also exacerbating climate change. To meet the challenge of climate change, it is essential to design ways to use and reuse our resources, preventing as much as possible from ending up in landfills and harming the environment.

Improving waste management and Circular Economy as a Solution

Addressing the waste crisis requires a fundamental shift in how we perceive waste - as a valuable resource. This involves adopting the waste hierarchy approach, prioritizing waste prevention, reduction, and reuse, followed by recycling or composting, energy recovery, and finally, disposal as a last resort. Uncontrolled disposal methods such as dumping or open burning pose significant threats to the environment and human health.

To effectively eliminate waste and maximize resource utilization, we need to establish closed-loop systems that optimize both renewable and non-renewable resources. Waste management plays a crucial role in this process, serving as the final stage in the efficient utilization of materials, essential for transitioning to a circular economy. The achievement of a circular economy relies on the establishment of effective waste management systems. Thus, enhancing collection, recycling, and other facets of sound waste management is crucial.

Creating zero-waste societies demands collaborative efforts from all stakeholders at every level. Consumers can play a pivotal role by adopting consumption habits centered on litter prevention, maximizing product reuse and repair before disposal, and implementing source segregation, such as separating dry and wet waste, to enhance recycling efficiency and quality.

Closing the Loop by Co-Processing

For plastics that are non-recyclable or have low value, as well as residual waste that has reached its end-of-life status and cannot be recycled any further, they can be utilized as an energy source. This approach enables us to close the loop and achieve zero waste to landfill.

The process of using waste into energy, known as co-processing, involves utilizing pre-processed waste alongside the production of clinker in the cement kiln pyro-process. This waste serves as a partial fuel substitute for traditional sources like coal during the cement-making process, resulting in reduced overall net carbon emissions. The high temperatures effectively destroy the material and residual ash gets absorbed in very minor concentrations into the produced clinker which is the main active ingredient of cement. With no leftover ash needing to be sent to landfills, zero waste to landfill is achieved.

INSEE Ecocycle Sustainable Waste Management

At INSEE Ecocycle, we understand the importance of managing waste as a valuable resource in a sustainable manner. Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in our disposal solutions, which allow us to utilize resources effectively before their final disposal through our zero waste to landfill approach.

In line with our dedication to fostering a circular economy, we are determined to stop the flow of plastic pollution into the environment. This includes recovering waste, especially single-use plastics, and non-recyclable materials, and extracting RDF from mining dumpsites. These resources are then leveraged as an energy source for cement production using co-processing technology.

We take pride in supporting our valued "Partners in Sustainability" in enhancing their environmental footprint and achieving their sustainability goals, fostering a circular economy.