During the 77th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on December 14, 2022, a historic resolution was passed designating March 30 as International Zero Waste Day as an annual observance.
Spearheaded by Türkiye and supported by 105 other nations, the resolution underlines global consensus to address waste-related challenges.
It builds on previous resolutions such as “Ending plastic pollution: towards an international legally binding instrument”, adopted at the United Nations Environment Assembly on March 2, 2022.
Two years later, UN Secretary General António Guterres delivered a message to commemorate this occasion, highlighting that our planet is drowning under a torrent of garbage like every year, as humanity produces more than two billion tons of municipal solid waste.
“Rotten food, plastic bottles, electronics contaminated with chemicals and much more are thrown away without regard for our water, land and air,” the secretary general said, adding that as trash becomes decomposes, releasing greenhouse gases into our atmosphere that warm the planet. , poisons our water and soil, and causes illness, disease, and even death around the world.
“Excessive consumption is killing us. “Humanity needs an intervention,” he further highlighted.
The Secretary General emphasized the role of the Zero Waste Advisory Council in uniting stakeholders for waste reduction; companies must redesign products to minimize packaging and extend life cycles; consumers should prioritize recycling and reuse; and governments are urged to promote circular economies and robust waste management strategies.
Furthermore, global cooperation is essential, with a call for unified efforts to establish a binding treaty to combat plastic pollution.
TACKLING THE GLOBAL WASTE CRISIS
Every year, households, businesses and public services produce a staggering 2.1 to 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste, from packaging to electronics and food.
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Despite these alarming figures, the global waste management infrastructure remains woefully inadequate, leaving 2.7 billion people without access to adequate waste collection services.
Surprisingly, only between 61 and 62 percent of municipal solid waste is managed in controlled facilities, exacerbating the crisis. The importance of tackling the waste epidemic is underlined by the celebration of the second International Zero Waste Day.
The crucial occasion not only emphasizes the urgent need to improve waste management strategies, but also highlights the imperative of adopting sustainable production and consumption practices. Recognizing and celebrating zero waste initiatives across all sectors is not only a step towards preserving the environment, but also a crucial contribution to realizing the ambitious goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
A CALL TO PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS
Addressing the waste crisis requires a change in mindset and treating waste as a resource. Adopting a life cycle approach minimizes waste generation, prioritizing reuse and recovery.
This includes designing durable products with eco-friendly materials and low-impact manufacturing. These strategies mitigate pollution and resource scarcity.
Achieving zero-waste societies requires collaboration at all levels, where consumers must adopt sustainable habits, governments and industries must prioritize funding and policies for waste reduction, especially considering its disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.
Adopting these solutions takes us towards a more sustainable and equitable future.
BRUNEI'S PATH TOWARDS ZERO WASTE
Brunei's proactive initiatives to achieve zero waste reflect a concerted effort to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable living practices within the nation.
Led by organizations such as Zero Waste Brunei, among many others, the country has embarked on a multi-faceted approach encompassing public awareness campaigns, policy advocacy and community engagement initiatives.
These efforts aim to instill among citizens a culture of waste reduction, recycling and responsible consumption habits.
From collaborating with local businesses to eliminate single-use plastics to organizing beach cleanups and educational workshops, Brunei is actively striving to minimize its ecological footprint and foster a greener, more resilient future for generations to come.
Furthermore, widespread support from government agencies underlines the commitment to realizing a Zero Waste vision and promoting Brunei's sustainable development goals on both local and global scales.
According to Big BWN Project and Zero Waste Brunei founder Noor Hafizah binti Rashid, their proactive efforts include extensive community outreach programs aimed at educating schools across the country on zero waste principles.
"By collaborating closely with various agencies, we carry out impactful campaigns such as beach clean-ups, single-use plastic removal initiatives, 'No Plastic Bag Everyday' campaigns and the promotion of reusable alternatives," the founder added.
He went on to say that, in particular, many establishments have adopted eco-friendly practices, such as replacing plastic straws with strawless lids and phasing out plastic bags.
This collective effort underlines the commitment to encourage sustainable habits and reduce waste across Brunei.
Furthermore, Noor Hafizah explained that the initiative emphasizes a different approach than the traditional 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). Instead, they prioritize reuse, particularly with items such as paper, e-waste and petroleum, given the lack of a proper recycling facility in Brunei.
Moving back to April 2022, the initiative orchestrated the inaugural Zero Waste Southeast Asia virtual festival, marking a milestone amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event brought together representatives of zero waste organizations from across ASEAN, who showcased a wealth of ideas and strategies.
Although it received independent funding, Noor Hafizah said the festival was a resounding success, underscoring the potential of cross-border collaboration on sustainable practices.
“Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, we have not been able to replicate the event since.
"However, given the invaluable learnings and sharing of best practices, we remain eager to host future editions, provided adequate funding is available," he said.
As it considers the possibility of another virtual event, the founder said the initiative group recognizes the potential limitations to achieving long-term impact and is exploring alternative avenues for sustainable collaboration and knowledge sharing.
For upcoming initiatives, Zero Waste Brunei hopes to focus on implementing a merit-based star or points system designed to incentivize local restaurants and establishments to adopt eco-friendly and zero-waste practices.
“Under this scheme, these companies will earn a green rating determined by their individual initiatives to achieve waste-free operations.
"By recognizing and rewarding proactive green initiatives, we aim to cultivate a culture of sustainability within our community while encouraging businesses to take meaningful steps toward environmental responsibility," the founder concluded. -Izah Azahari
