Zero Waste as An Effective Climate Strategy: Avoiding Warming Tradeoffs from Incineration

Author
John Ribeiro-Broomhead, Neil Tangri

Abstract

This report assesses the long-term global warming impacts of three waste management strategies — business-as-usual disposal-based practices such as dumping and landfilling (BAU), incineration, and zero waste practices such as source separation and treatment of organics and recyclables (ZW). The analysis focuses on three urban contexts: Lagos (Nigeria), Barueri (Brazil), and Quezon City (Philippines). Using the Solid Waste Emissions Estimation Tool (SWEET) and the Finite Amplitude Impulse Response (FaIR) climate model, the analysis calculates projected temperature impacts for each strategy through 2060.

Published: 2025