Where Is the Future of Garbage Management Heading?
I’ve had the opportunity to travel across more than 49 countries, and one thing becomes very clear when you see the world firsthand: How a country handles its waste tells you everything about its systems, discipline, and priorities. Some countries are evolving fast. Some are stuck. And some simply don’t care. The Reality on the Ground In parts of India , waste management is still a major challenge. Large open dumps, inconsistent collection systems, and rapid urban growth make it difficult to keep up with demand. In areas of Africa , the situation can be even more complex. Infrastructure gaps often mean that waste is burned, dumped, or handled informally creating environmental and health risks. In China , while major cities have made progress with stricter policies and recycling mandates, the scale of population and consumption still creates enormous waste pressures. These are not isolated issues. They are systemic. According to the World Bank’s What a Waste 2.0 report, global wa...