37
ACTIONS ON AIR QUALITY
5. WASTE
Chapter findingsIn the industrial sector, the report indicates growing uptake of policy incentives for The number of countries that regulate open waste burning has increased significantly since 2016, although 75 countries still do not have regulations in place. Ninety-four countries (43 more than in 2016) now regulate burning, but only 38 of these countries have strict regulations in place. Despite the progress in this area since 2016, open burning is still practised in many countries, even those where regulations exist. Survey data indicate that the governments of the 94 countries that regulate burning have taken actions ranging from urban or national waste management plans to waste management regulations and more advanced strategies, such as landfill gas capture and improved collection, separation and environmentally sound waste disposal methods.
waste in individual countries and regions. Thus, the overall magnitude also varies between regions.
Open burning of solid waste is a significant source of air pollution linked to open dumps of waste. Another large source of air pollution is seasonal burning of agricultural residue in fields after crops have been harvested. This source is covered in chapter 7, which addresses agriculture. While most combustion results in some degree of both primary fine particle pollution and secondary organic particle pollution (from condensation of semi-volatile organic combustion products and chemical formation in the atmosphere), open burning is associated, in particular, with secondary organic particulate formation. This varies depending on the composition and relative ratio of organic to inorganic
Figure 16 demonstrates that 94 countries (43 more than in 2016) now regulate burning, but only 38 of these countries have strict regulations in place. Despite the progress in this area since 2016, open burning is still practised in many countries, even those where regulations exist, and at least 75 countries still do not have regulations in place. Survey data indicate that the governments of the 94 countries that regulate burning have taken actions ranging from urban or national waste management plans to waste management regulations and more advanced strategies, such as landfill gas capture and improved
Figure 16. Countries with solid waste burning regulation Baseline reference
12
2020
39
38
104
56
40
75
26
0
195 Burning of solid waste is strictly regulated
Source: UNEP survey data
Burning of solid waste is regulated but still practised
Burning of solid waste is not regulated and is commonly practised
No data
