The open burning of waste takes place worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where there is a lack of waste management infrastructure. This was a key finding of the Engineering X Global Review on Safer End of Engineered Life which warned that open burning of solid waste is damaging the health of “tens of millions” of people worldwide but a lack of data means that the true scale of the problem is unknown and more research is urgently needed.
The challenge:
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41% of households globally manage their waste in an uncontrolled manner, either openly dumping or burning (Gallup and LRF, World Risk Poll, 2024)
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Estimated that 90% of waste is mismanaged throughout Africa (Cogut 2016; Kaza and Bhada-Tata 2018; UNEP 2018)
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Waste is often de-prioritised in national and local government budgets and overseas development finance (ODF) for solid waste management was only 0.41% of all ODF between 2003-2021
The impact:
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Open burning has catastrophic effects on human health and environment, contributing an estimate 11% of global black carbon emissions, and releases other Short Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs), including methane
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SLCPs have a greater impact on climate change per unit than CO₂. They trap more heat per molecule and have a higher global warming potential, despite a shorter lifespan in the atmosphere
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This can cause upper respiratory tract infections, dermatological illnesses, immunological, reproductive and developmental abnormalities
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The practice deepens existing inequalities and disproportionately affects the most vulnerable, including informal waste workers, women and children, and people living in or around dumpsites
Why do people burn waste?:
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Open burning is the outcome of inadequate waste management systems, meaning people often have no choice but to burn waste
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Public awareness of the harmful impacts of open burning remains low. The practice is often perceived as beneficial, for example as a way to eliminate pests like rodents and flies.
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It is often used as method to recover resources, for example, copper from cables
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Open burning can be culturally embedded in many contexts
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A lack of available data makes it difficult for local governments to implement evidence-based robust policies to address open burning
Our programme
The Global review on Safer End of Engineered Life, published in 2021, highlighted the catastrophic effects from open burning of waste on human health and the environment. Since then, the programme works to create the enabling conditions to change behaviour, policy and practice to end open burning of waste globally, through:
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convening and community building,
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advocacy,
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strategic partnerships,
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grant funding,
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and generating evidence.
Upcoming activities:
- Explore the Africa Roadmap
AMCEN
We will have a side event at the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) in July 2025 where we are seeking endorsement for the Africa Roadmap on Transformative Action to End Open Burning of Waste, which is prepped as a guide for implementing AMCEN resolution 18i/b.
Date: 13 July
Time: 1:15pm - 2:45pm
Location: Conference room 4, UN offices, Nairobi
The session will focus on the Africa Roadmap transformative action framework, exploring mechanisms for its implementation, such as circular economy initiatives, financing instruments and no-cost, low-cost and investment actions that cities can take to achieve transformative action.
Following AMCEN, the Africa Roadmap will be finalised and launched later this year. Find out more on how you can engage on Roadmap implementation here.
Our key partners, International Solid Waste Association, are holding their annual World Congress in Buenos Aires from 27 – 29 October 2025. You can register here.
We will be presenting the three Regional Roadmaps for Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. Let us know if you will be there!
Current projects
Find out more about our collaboration with the Climate and Clean Air Fund on developing regional roadmaps to increase action and awareness to end open burning in Africa, Asia and Latin America & the Caribbean.
Our work
Join our community
Building on the two global workshops we held in 2021, our community continues to build and share knowledge through an online Community of Practice, For information about the workshops read on or to contribute to the conversation around Open burning waste join our linkedin group.