WHILE the world at large observed the International Day of Zero Waste recently (March 30), hardly anyone took notice of it in Pakistan. We were probably too busy saying goodbye to Ramazan and preparing for the Eid festivities. The fact is that for our own long-term survival — yes, survival — we must start caring about such things.

Globally, solid waste has emerged as a significant environmental concern; so significant that the United Nations General Assembly enacted a resolution on Dec 14, 2022, designating March 30 as the Inter-

national Day of Zero Waste, acknowledging that globalisation, urbanisation and population expansion have contributed to an increase in solid waste generation, and there is a need to manage the issue.

Since then, the idea of ‘zero-waste’ has been widely accepted. This day raises awareness of national, subnational, regional, and local zero-waste initiatives among the many stakeholders including the private sector, academics, women, youth, and others.

The concept of zero-waste represents a paradigm shift that encourages a thorough reconsideration of existing systems. According to the Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA), this strategy is centred on responsible production, consumption, reuse and recovery of products without harmful discharges.

Zero-waste initiatives support a circular economy, which aims at preventing waste by keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible, and to protect human health and the environment by the elimination of harmful chemicals. To put it simply, zero waste aims at encouraging economies to send no garbage to landfills, incinerators, or the ocean.

Pakistan, like many developing countries, faces significant challenges in effectively managing waste. Ineffective waste management practices in Pakistan are characterised by inadequate waste collection services, improper disposal methods, and a lack of infrastructure for waste processing and recycling, with only 50 per cent of the waste being collected and less than 10pc being recycled.

According to government data, solid waste worth 87,000 tonnes is generated weekly, primarily from major metropolitan areas, and the country has the highest percentage of mismanaged plastic in South Asia, with over 3.3 million tonnes of plastic wasted annually. Garbage is frequently disposed of in open spaces, rivers and drains, which degrades the environment and poses health risks to the general population.

The inefficiencies within Pakistan’s waste management systems have an impact on the country’s economy. A significant financial burden is placed on the nation by the expenses of cleaning up contami-

nated regions, addressing health problems brought on by inadequate waste management, and the missed possibilities for profitable recycling projects.

In order to overcome these challenges, systemic change must be achieved through circular solutions and sustainable pro-duction and consumption. As a relatively new notion in Pakistan, a zero-waste approach is key to this transition.

Unfortunately, it has not yet gained widespread adoption. Given the complex social dynamics, webs of stakeholders, and multi-layered interdependencies, it is imperative that national and local governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the private sector, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), work together to implement circular business models, reuse, repair and recycle, enforce extended producer responsibility (EPR) prog- rammes, control hazardous chemicals, invest in recycling infrastructure, and incentivise sustainable business models.

These actions will advance several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and will create economic opportunities by promoting sustainable business practices and creating green jobs, thereby solving the problem and contributing to Pakistan’s overall socioeconomic development.

Dr Ainy Zehra
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2025