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.
Our programme
To inform the direction of our programme, Engineering X commissioned the Global Review on Safer End of Engineered Life led by the University of Leeds. This looked at what happens to consumer goods and other engineered products at the end of their useful life. This research identified the harm caused by open burning and called for urgent action to tackle this neglected issue.
Risks and benefits
The review identified the multiple and multidisciplinary nature of the risks posed to human health and the environment from the uncontrolled burning of waste such as the negative impact on:
- informal waste workers and vulnerable populations (for example, children, older people, pregnant women),
- the pollution of land, air and water
It also concluded that there are several (perceived) benefits of burning waste. For example, burning occurs to ‘get rid’ of accumulated waste or in the form of regular burning as an accepted practice.
Following this evidence gathering, we sought to raise the issue of open burning on the global agenda and catalyse action around this long-neglected issue.
Children carry water next to smouldering waste in Douala, Cameroon; ©WasteAid
Upcoming activities
Our advocacy work, in partnership with others, saw the open burning of waste raised on the global agenda for the first time in a side event at COP26 in Glasgow. Since then the visibility and tackling of the challenge has increased rapidly. It was included in the UNEP Medium Term strategy and a resolution was signed by 54 African Environment Ministers to eliminate the open burning of waste in Africa by 2040.
How to get involved:
- Let us know if you are attending the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment in July 2025.
- Join the community of practice on LinkedIn here.
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.