There’s no way to dress up waste management. It’s just collecting rubbish. It’s hard to make the case for investing in bins and landfills when countries have so many other priorities to grapple with. That’s why we’ve ended up in this position in the first place. Living standards have increased quickly. People have moved to cities where they use many more consumables. They can now afford to use lots of plastic. That’s a good thing; it’s a sign that people are getting richer and can enjoy a better life. But waste management has remained low on the priority list.
