Zero Waste Day: Humanity generates more than two billion tonnes solid waste annually

It’s time to clean up our world & make progress towards circular economies: UN Secretary-General António Guterres

New Delhi: The planet is literally drowning in garbage, and it is high time to clean up said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, at an event in the General Assembly Hall marking the first-ever International Day of Zero Waste.

The high-level meeting was held to raise awareness of the urgent need to transition to a “green” and circular economy that promotes sustainable production and consumption patterns.

According to UN, Humanity currently generates more than two billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, which includes plastics, textiles, rotting food, discarded electronics, and debris from mining and construction sites.

Mr Guterres said we are basically “treating our planet like a garbage dump”, warning that the messy mountain will reach four billion tonnes by 2050.

“We are trashing our only home,” he said. “We’re spewing a torrent of waste and pollution that is affecting our environment, our economies, and our health.”

Mr. Guterres further added that it was time for “a war on waste” on three fronts, calling on polluters themselves to take the lead.

The Secretary-General also encouraged countries to take inspiration from examples like Türkiye’s Zero Waste project, which is spearheaded by the First Lady, Emine Erdoğan, who is also chairperson of his newly established Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste.

Delivering the keynote address, Mrs. Erdoğan noted that all life on earth is connected but industrialization has led to the overconsumption that is polluting the planet.

“Humans have created this frightening landscape. But we know that it is in our hands to stop this destruction and save the earth, our common home,” she said.

“We are obliged as humanity to act at once, and together because we will either win or lose together in this equation.”

She reported that through the Zero Waste Project, some 650 million tonnes of raw material have been conserved, and four million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions were eliminated through recycling.

The First Lady also highlighted the need for justice and equality when it comes to protecting the planet and combatting climate change.

The head of the UN’s urban development agency, UN-Habitat, Maimunah Mohd Sharif also urged countries to be “waste wise”, including through finding value in reusing items before discarding them.

“Zero Waste is the first step towards creating waste-wise societies,” she said.

“The first step is to take responsibility and make a conscious effort to reduce our consumption of single-use plastics. Remember that everything we use and discard must go somewhere.” she added.