Open waste burning: sectoral solutions for air pollution and health

Overview

Reducing open waste burning is essential for achieving clean air, clean energy access, climate change mitigation, and improved health and well-being. Globally, over 2 billion tonnes of waste are produced annually. Household waste typically includes a mix of materials such as glass, plastics, metals, cardboard, paper, polystyrene, and organic matter like food and garden waste. Occasionally, it may also contain demolition waste, household chemicals, or tyres. Open waste burning can occur at large landfills, small or remote dumpsites, individual households, or even in streets. The emissions produced from such burning include a variety of air pollutants, some of which have particularly harmful effects on both climate and health. Exposure to these pollutants, whether short- or long-term, can lead to adverse health effects such as coughing, skin irritation, respiratory diseases, and other negative outcomes.

Open waste burning - sectoral solution for air pollution and health highlights this issue of open waste burning as a source of ambient air pollution and the implications on health. The technical brief summarize priority actions for the short, medium and long term to address the health impacts of this source of air pollution and success stories of effective waste management approaches.

This document is part of the WHO Air Quality, Energy, and Health Science and Policy Summaries (SPS). These summaries provide concise overviews of current knowledge and evidence on air quality, energy access, climate change, and health. They aim to support decision-makers by presenting key insights from scientific research.

The SPS are developed through a multistakeholder consultation process that includes experts from WHO Advisory Groups – i.e., the Scientific Advisory Group on Air Pollution and Health (SAG), and the Global Air Pollution and Health – Technical Advisory Group (GAPH-TAG) – as well as specialists from WHO Collaborating Centres, UN agencies as well as other experts from academia and civil society.

All Science and Policy Summaries can be accessed here