Municipal solid waste: Is it garbage or gold? Article reproduced from United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Environmental Alert Service (GEAS)

Waste management has become an issue of growing global concern as urban populations continue to increase and consumption patterns change. The health and environmental implications associated with garbage disposal are mounting in urgency, particularly in developing countries. However, the growth of the solid-waste market, increasing resource scarcity and the availability of new technologies are offering opportunities for turning waste into a resource.