Dive Brief:
- A study published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology compiled the first comprehensive assessment of trash-burning data on a worldwide scale.
- Researchers created a country-by-country index of rough emissions estimates for pollutants linked to human disease.
- Many governments record emissions from incinerators; however, trash burned in backyard, fields, and dumpsites are generally unregulated and unreported. At some point, the index could potentially prompt an increase in health regulations.
Dive Insight:
Researchers collected analyzed information about carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, mercury, and particulate matter levels. Study leader Christine Wiedinmyer said that toxins stemming form burning should be studied further. She also noted that there is little information available on the topic of burning trash and waste management.
The scientists complied existing data about population, per capita trash generation, and official waste disposal reports to determine the amount of trash that is burned annually around the world. The team calculated that 41% of the 2 billion tons of trash generated worldwide is burned. Furthermore, 5% of the world’s man-made carbon dioxide emissions were the result of burning waste materials.
Researchers behind the study admitted that their figures come with a wide margin of error due to a lack of existing data and the fact that the index is still in its early stages -- but they are still hopeful the results will shed light on waste issues that need to be addressed on a worldwide level.