Role of Sanitary Waste Handling in Achieving COP29 Climate Goals

The 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) brought global leaders and stakeholders together to address climate challenges, emphasizing actionable pathways to reduce methane emissions, particularly in waste management. Cities like Lagos and Santo Domingo showcased their innovative approaches, focusing on organic waste treatment, closing dumpsites, and transitioning to sanitary landfills. While these measures are commendable, Aakri Impact advocates for a shift in perspective, especially when it comes to sanitary waste management.

With decreasing land availability and rising environmental concerns, we believe sanitary landfills are not the sustainable solution for solid waste, especially for non-biodegradable and hazardous components like sanitary napkins and diapers. Instead, recycling facilities and scientific incineration offer a more effective, eco-friendly, and scalable approach.

The Methane Challenge and Sanitary Waste

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is significantly produced by the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste in landfills. Addressing this through better waste segregation and treatment can drastically reduce emissions. However, sanitary waste poses a unique challenge:

It is non-biodegradable and often mixed with hazardous materials.

It contributes to landfill bulk without offering any recovery value in its raw form.

Decomposition in open dumpsites or poorly managed landfills exacerbates methane emissions and creates health hazards.

The LOW-Methane portfolios presented at COP29 offer an optimistic pathway, suggesting up to 40,800 tons of methane emission reductions annually through strategic waste management interventions. However, these models need to incorporate specialized strategies for sanitary waste, given its rising volume due to urbanization and lifestyle changes.

 

Aakri Impact's Approach: Scientific Incineration Over Landfills

At Aakri Impact, we align our solid waste management practices with the vision of COP29, addressing methane emissions while considering long-term sustainability. Our key strategies include:

1. Scientific Incineration

We leverage incineration facilities compliant with Biomedical Waste Management Rules to handle sanitary waste safely. This method ensures:

Volume Reduction: Incineration reduces waste volume by up to 90%, conserving landfill space.

Energy Recovery: Advanced incineration plants can capture energy during the process, contributing to circular economy principles.

Reduced Methane Emissions: Unlike landfills, incineration eliminates methane generation from sanitary waste.

2. Promoting Recycling for Sanitary Waste

Emerging technologies now enable the recycling of certain components in sanitary products. Partnering with innovators in this space, we are exploring pathways to:

Recover cellulose and plastics from sanitary napkins and diapers.

Develop alternative uses for these recycled materials, such as in construction or industrial applications.

3. Awareness and Segregation

A crucial step is educating communities about segregating sanitary waste at the source. At Aakri, we run awareness campaigns encouraging users to utilize dedicated bins for sanitary products, ensuring effective downstream processing.

 

Challenges and Opportunities

The current reliance on sanitary landfills poses challenges in urban areas with diminishing land availability. While landfills are part of the LOW-Methane portfolios, they are not a long-term solution for handling sanitary waste. Investments in innovative recycling and incineration facilities, alongside stricter regulations, can address this gap.

Globally, there is also a need to standardize practices for managing sanitary waste. Many countries lack a robust framework for its safe disposal. Aakri Impact’s model, which includes collection, segregation, and scientific incineration, serves as a scalable example for regions grappling with these challenges.

At Aakri Impact, we envision a future where waste management practices are not only environmentally sustainable but also economically viable. We call on governments, private players, and communities to prioritize alternatives to landfills and invest in advanced recycling and incineration facilities. Together, we can turn the challenge of sanitary waste into an opportunity to achieve climate goals, reduce methane emissions, and build a cleaner, greener planet.

Let us take bold steps today to ensure a sustainable tomorrow.