Humanity’s growing waste problem is fueling climate change

Every year, the world produces over 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste according to a recent study of the World Bank, and this number is projected to grow rapidly with urbanization and population increasing further. A significant portion of this waste ends up in landfills or incinerators, releasing millions of tonnes of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

When organic waste decomposes in landfills, it emits methane — a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than CO₂ over a 100-year period. Incineration, though often used as a solution, emits large volumes of CO₂ without addressing the root issue: we are generating too much waste and not doing enough to repurpose it.

Recycling solid waste in its material is one of the most effective ways to break the cycle according to one of the key statements of circular economy, thus it’s also a powerful tool for generating quality carbon credits from improved waste management activities.

Plastic waste is one of the most persistent threats to our planet

Plastics make up a substantial share of global waste, with over 300 million tonnes produced annually in the world according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) — and more than half of that is discarded after a single use. These materials do not biodegrade, and when burned, they release massive quantities of greenhouse gases and other toxic chemicals. The environmental cost is staggering: plastic waste clogs ecosystems, pollutes oceans, and contributes heavily to climate change. However, plastics also represent an untapped opportunity — when properly collected and recycled in material, they can be transformed from pollutants into valuable raw materials, while reducing emissions and diverting plastics from incinerators and landfills.

Advanced recycling systems offer scalable climate solutions

Instead of burning plastic or sending it to landfills, dedicated waste processing units have been established to collect, sort, and recycle plastic waste into reusable materials. These systems are designed to preserve the material value of plastics, reducing the need for virgin plastic production that is a major source of CO₂ emissions. Through processes like mechanical recycling (grinding and remelting plastics) and chemical recycling (breaking down polymers into monomers), waste is transformed into new products, reducing environmental impact and supporting the circular economy. If these operations are considered as voluntary climate action, it not only helps tackle pollution, but also directly contributes to emissions reduction, making them eligible for carbon crediting.

Recycling projects can generate verified carbon credits

When plastic waste is recycled in material instead of incinerated or landfilled, a measurable amount of greenhouse gas emissions is avoided. This reduction can be calculated, verified, and issued as carbon credits. By quantifying the emissions savings from activities such as diverting waste from incineration, reducing the need for virgin plastic production, and cutting methane emissions from landfills, waste management projects can become revenue-generating voluntary climate action going beyond regulatory requirements. The resulting quality carbon credits then can be sold to companies and institutions seeking to offset their emissions, creating a financial incentive to scale up recycling infrastructure while driving measurable environmental impact.