Waste management (or waste disposal) includes the activities and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. This includes the collection, transport, treatment, and disposal of waste, together with monitoring and regulation of the waste management process.
Waste can be solid, liquid, or gas and each type have different methods of disposal and management. Waste management deals with all types of waste, including industrial, biological, and household. In some cases, waste can pose a threat to human health.
Waste is produced by human activity, for example, the extraction and processing of raw materials.
Waste management is intended to reduce the adverse effects of waste on human health, the environment, or aesthetics. Waste management practices are not uniform among countries (developed and developing nations); regions (urban and rural areas), and residential and industrial sectors can all take different approaches.
Proper management of waste is important for building sustainable and livable cities, but it remains a challenge for many developing countries and cities. Effective waste management is quite expensive, usually comprising 20%–50% of municipal budgets.
Operating this essential municipal service requires integrated systems that are efficient, sustainable, and socially supported.
In view of this, the World Bank finances and advises on solid waste management projects using a diverse suite of products and services, including traditional loans, results-based financing, development policy financing, and technical advisory.
World Bank-financed waste management projects usually address the entire lifecycle of waste right from the point of generation to collection and transportation, and finally treatment and disposal.
A large portion of waste management practices deals with municipal solid waste (MSW) which is the bulk of the waste that is created by household, industrial, and commercial activity.