Impact of Waste Management on Public Health and Environmental Sustainability

Department of Microbiology, School of Science, RK University, Rajkot, Gujarat, India Gujarat, India

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Published online: 21 January 2026

Abstract

Rapidly escalating global waste generation poses serious challenges to environmental quality and public health. Currently, as per the World Bank's What a Waste 2.0 report, the world produces over 2 billion tonnes of solid waste annually, a figure projected to rise to 3.4 billion tonnes by 2050. This review provides a critical analysis of major waste streams - municipal, industrial, biomedical, electronic, and radioactive - and evaluates common waste management practices alongside their environmental and health impacts. Improper waste handling is found to contaminate air, water, and soil, contributing to climate change and biodiversity loss. Unmanaged landfills emit methane, while open burning and incineration release toxins like dioxins and heavy metals, which have been linked to cancers and other diseases. Exposure to waste pollution elevates risks of respiratory illness, infections, and vector-borne diseases in nearby communities. A comparative analysis of case studies highlights how high-income countries have achieved minimal landfill usage (<1%) through recycling and waste-to-energy (WtE), whereas developing countries often rely on open dumps and informal recycling. Sustainable solutions - including policy reforms, technological innovations, and community engagement - are critically examined for their effectiveness. Remaining challenges, such as data gaps, weak enforcement, and infrastructure deficits, are discussed to outline future research and policy needs. The findings underscore an urgent need for integrated and sustainable waste management strategies worldwide to safeguard public health and ecosystems.