Since 2022, the world has observed the International Day of Zero Waste on March 30 each year. It is a reminder that what we discard today shapes the planet we inherit tomorrow. This UN-backed day calls for sustainable consumption, efficient resource use and a decisive shift away from the take-make-dispose model of growth. Pakistan’s waste crisis is a stark reminder of how important it is for our policymakers to prioritise waste management. The country generates over 50 million tonnes of solid waste annually, with urban centres like Karachi producing more than 17,000 tons per day. Plastic waste alone totals about 3.9 million tonnes each year. Per reports, nearly two-thirds of this waste is mismanaged. This inaction becomes more pronounced during heavy rainfall when urban flooding halts life in major cities. To its credit, the government has acknowledged the scale of the problem. Decision-makers have also talked about a transition to a circular economy, where resources are reused and waste is minimised. But, as seen in other issues, there are no measurable actions to back this intent.
There is another uncomfortable truth about today’s world: while we produce enough to feed the world, we throw over one billion tonnes of it into the trash every year. The world, unfortunately, is divided into the haves and have-nots. While one segment struggles to put daily meals on their tables, the other half spends lavishly on eating out, usually leaving tonnes of food unattended. At closing time, food chains mostly throw away unsold food. This food usually ends up in landfills. There, it pumps out methane, accounting for 14 per cent of global methane emissions. Pakistan wastes roughly 26 per cent of its food production, around 20 million tonnes annually, while millions remain food insecure. Until recently, food waste was viewed as an intractable problem, an inevitable byproduct of complex supply chains and fickle human behaviour. Now, every year, countries observe Zero Waste Day to vow to put an end to food waste. The immediate target is to halve food waste by 2030.
Many countries have leveraged artificial intelligence to reduce waste. In Thailand, retailers are using AI-enabled systems to trigger dynamic discounts on items nearing expiration. In commercial settings, companies are installing AI-equipped cameras over kitchen bins. These systems identify discarded food by sight, calculate its cost and provide chefs with the data needed to adjust ordering. Reports by UNEP suggest that an entity saw its post-consumer waste slashed by 62 per cent in just four months through this measure. Pakistan needs to adopt similar models. The environmental impact of excessive waste is also huge. In Karachi, for example, heaps of garbage in most residential areas show how indifferent local and provincial governments are to waste management. Our policymakers cannot afford to sit this out. Waste management policies should be vigorously debated in parliament and those responsible for managing waste should be held accountable for their inaction or failures.
