WHO Highlights Health Risks Influenced by Global Waste Crisis

JAKARTA - In its latest report, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the risks to global health that can occur due to the influence of the global waste crisis. The report confirms that poorly managed solid waste drives public health crises.

Globally, the volume of municipal solid waste is growing at an unprecedented rate. However, many countries still lack the systems and resources to manage the waste safely.

"Solid waste reflects how our society produces and consumes, and how we treat people and the environment in the process," said the Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change, Health and Migration at WHO, Ruediger Krech, quoted from the WHO official website, Wednesday, December 17, 2025.

Krech said that if global waste is still not handled well in the future, then the risk of various diseases is getting higher, as is climate pollution.

Solid waste affects health through contaminated air, water, soil, and food. When waste is not collected or disposed of, burned or processed hastily, it can release harmful chemicals.

This can cause diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, dengue fever, respiratory tract infections, asthma, tuberculosis, scabies, to nerve damage and cancer.

Therefore, major actions are needed for governments and partners including reducing waste production at the source. Then expand affordable and reliable waste collection services, especially in underserved communities.

The health sector must also prevent and minimize health care at the source, improve safe separation and care, invest in cleaner climate-resistant technologies, and advocate health protection policies and standards.

"These concrete steps save lives today and will make cities cleaner and healthier in the future," said the Head of the WHO's Air, Sanitation and Health Unit, Bruce Gordon.