THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ZERO WASTE Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad 31st March 2023: The following is the message of the UNSG His Excellency Antonio Guterres on the occasion of The International Day of Zero Waste: The first-ever International Day of Zero Waste reminds us of a fundamental and brutal truth: humanity is treating our planet like a garbage dump. Every year, more than 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste is created, but 33 percent of it is not properly managed in controlled facilities. Every minute, the equivalent of one garbage truck full of plastic is dumped into the ocean. Meanwhile, pollution and chemicals are poisoning our water, air, and soil. And a staggering 10 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions come from growing, storing, and transporting food that is never used. We must stop trashing our only home and declare war on waste. We need those who produce waste to design products that use fewer resources and materials while managing waste across production cycles and extending the lives of the products they sell. We must massively invest in modern waste management systems and policies that encourage people to reuse and recycle everything from plastic bottles to aging electronics. And as consumers, we must all consider the origins and impacts of the goods and products we purchase, and reuse and recycle what we can, whenever we can. It’s time to clean up our world, and make progress towards circular, zero-waste economies — for people and the planet alike.