Mapping Solid Waste to Meet Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

The World Bank has conservatively estimated that 33% of global waste is managed in an environmentally unsafe way (Kaza et al. 2018). Waste generation could nearly double by 2050 with generation per capita expected to increase by 40% in low- and middle-income countries, many of which are growing at an unsustainable pace with limited resources dedicated to waste management. YouthMappers creating local geospatial data about sites of illegal trash dumping can play a key role in mitigating impacts and improving waste management, and in turn, impact public health. Several of the UN SDGs are supported by creating and sustaining a clean, healthy environment, particularly in this case, SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production and ultimately, SDG 3 Health. A novel tool, Wastesites.io, has been initiated to leverage youth action and connectivity of YouthMappers in order to solve these challenges together.