Guest Blog: Marc’s Digital Lens at Romenvirontec 2025

In March 2025, ISWA’s National Member in Romania, Asociația Română de Salubritate și Pentru Managementul Deșeurilor, hosted an inspiring edition of GREEN ENERGY EXPO & ROMENVIROTEC in Bucharest. Here, Marc Tijhuis, ISWA’s Managing Director, had the opportunity to speak about the findings from the Global Waste Management Outlook 2024, developed in close collaboration between UNEP International Environment Technology Centre and ISWA International Solid Waste Association. 

Here’s a snippet of Marc’s speech at Romenvirontec:

“The Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 provides us with a blueprint to transition from linear, unsustainable practices to a future rooted in resource efficiency, climate responsibility, and circularity.

If current trends continue, the world could see a nearly 80% increase in municipal solid waste by 2050, driven by economic growth and population growth. It’s a systemic challenge affecting health, the environment, and economies globally.

The full net cost of waste management stands at US$361 billion annually. Direct costs are just one side of the story. Externalities such as environmental degradation, health impacts, and the missed value of recyclables add substantially to the total. The economic burden of inaction is significantly higher than the costs of building sustainable systems.

From the scenarios studies, only the circular economy scenario positions us within planetary boundaries, climate goals, and sustainable development. The business-as-usual path would cost us US$640 billion annually. The circular economy scenario delivers a potential full net gain of US$108 billion.

Transitioning to a circular economy by 2050 could turn waste management from a costly burden into a financial gain. It is time for a paradigm shift. ‘Waste as garbage’ is over. There is a need for collaboration across all sectors involved, working in silo’s is history.”

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