Waste crisis emerging in Asia-Pacific region: UN

ISLAMABAD: A waste crisis is emerging in the Asia-Pacific region, stoked by escalating quantities of waste as well as poor regulation and management, says a United Nations report.

However, within this crisis lies an untapped opportunity, according to the ‘Valuing Waste, Transforming Cities’ report published by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on Friday.

Also read: Go green: Garbage to gold

When the garbage is disposed of by dumping, burning or land-filling, the value of both organic and non-organic waste is lost. Recycling these materials allows municipalities, communities and businesses to capture and retain this value, but creating a recycling culture requires changes in perception. Waste, especially organic waste, must be seen as a resource and an opportunity, says the report.

A major portion tending to range between 50 and 65 per cent of the solid waste generated in low- and middle-income cities of the region is organic.

Published in Dawn, October 17th , 2015

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