Global Waste Management: Models for Tackling the International Waste Crisis

"The book provides a brilliant description of the mechanisms behind the waste crisis, one of the biggest challenges for creating a more sustainable future. Kamila Pope offers a sharp analysis of how we arrived in this situation and shows how adequate governance could lead us out of it. A paradigm shift in the current dominant economic model and legal order for the use of a more systemic view is wisely proposed. This is an essential read for all working in sustainability issues and environmental policy." * Dr. Michelle Bonatti, Deputy Head, Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries Dept, Leibniz Agricultural Landscape Research Center * "The issue of global waste management is ripe with challenges of social-ecological justice. This applies to national jurisdictions, but increasingly so to cross-border waste transfers to the Global South. This book casts a sharp eye on the striking absence of systemic legal control instruments. Against this backdrop, Kamila Pope suggests the creation of international regulation oriented towards ecological integrity and dignity of life in an intra- and inter-generational perspective. This book is an alert of a global problem and a handbook for its solution; a must-read for decision-makers and scholars alike." * Christina Voigt, Professor of International Law, University of Oslo * "This timely book shows depth and urgency of the global waste crisis and critiques the liberal, anthropocentric model underpinning current waste management. It makes a well-reasoned case for laws based on eco-centric ethics. Indeed, nothing short of a paradigmatic shift to ecological law and governance is needed to solve the problem of waste and, for that matter, of disintegrating Earth systems (climate, oceans, biodiversity)." * Klaus Bosselmann, Chair, Ecological Law and Governance Association, Professor, University of Auckland * "International trade of substances and objects which are not anymore, or never were, interesting for the owner, is a phenomenon which deserves scientific attention and critical analysis. Following an exhaustive research, Kamila Pope went beyond the mere legal approach in the framework of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, and has presented a multidisciplinary approach to the global problem of waste management. The visualising data methods included in the book enhance effective communication and contribute to a thorough understanding of the main central message of the book: the equity or inequity of international relations among world regions, as a consequence of waste management options. Global Waste Management can help change the mindset of those who are concerned with the effects of current production and consumption patterns and waste management system between the so called Global North and Global South Regions. Kamila Pope's book provides clear insights on the best waste management options necessary to trigger a shift from a linear economy based on a throwaway society, towards a new circular economy paradigm, based on a frugal, responsible and more sustainable society." * Alexandra Aragão, Professor of Environmental Law, Faculty of Law, University of Coimbra * "This is a book worthy to read because it brings a fresh perspective to a long-standing problem, the continuously but silently increasing waste crisis. Adopting the socio-ecological perspective and digging deeper to material flow analysis, urban metabolism and environmental justice narratives, the book not only presents the on-going waste crisis but documents the need for a systemic shift towards a new scientific paradigm that will start from governance. The need for a new global governance pattern that will include not only waste but mainly material flows is one of the key-elements of the systemic shift required and its necessity is one of the most important outcomes of this book. I also believe that the book includes valuable suggestions that bridge the gap between the mainstream circular economy discussion and the role of waste management. I strongly suggest this book to any professional, researcher or decision-maker that deals with waste management, especially to the ones that are looking for a fresh perspective and are dealing with global waste flows." * Antonis Mavropoulos, President of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) * "This original and far-ranging book shows the reader how waste is both a problem of justice and a legal challenge, especially as it crosses national boundaries from the Global North to the Global South. Pope offers careful insights into the critical case of Brazil while never losing sight of how it fits into larger patterns of the global waste management system. Highly recommended!" * Kathryn Hochstetler, Professor of International Development, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) * "Kamila Pope's Global Waste Management is absolutely a timely book on the subject of international waste challenge and governance. I believe that Chinese policymakers, researchers and citizens will find this book thoughtful and helpful for three reasons. Firstly, the book focuses on the hot issue of cross-border waste transfer which China has been fighting against. Secondly, the book develops a theoretical framework which combines social justice and ecological sustainability and calls for a paradigm shift in this field. Thirdly, the book proposes a new model of global waste governance which would help to tackle the international waste crisis more reasonably and effectively." * Zhu Dajian, Professor and Director, Institute of Sustainable Development and Governance, Tongji University * "Thought-provoking and altruistic, this book provides a fascinating angle addressing the waste management debacles and the so-called 'waste emergencies' that are encountered by many countries to date. In this highly researched book, Dr. Pope provides her insights and models to deal with the waste crisis, which is highly critical in recent times. She supports the theory that waste is a justice problem, which is spot on and yet often neglected in the mainstream schools of thought. It is well known that there are recurrent trans-boundary movement of hazardous and other wastes, and while the typical discourses are usually revolving around the technical matters, this book delves deeper to understand the root of the waste problem. As such, it is a quintessential reference for researchers, students, government officials, and consultants working in the waste sector all around the world. The knowledge gained from the book may provide a base for critical thinking to deal with the waste issues in the readers' respective countries." * Dr. Aretha Aprilia, Environmental Specialist, CDM Smith Europe GmbH, Jakarta, Indonesia * "I first read work written by Kamila Pope in 2017, when she wrote a book on Planned Obsolescence. It was highly informative and became a required reading for my environmental law students. I approached this new book, on Global Waste Management, with the same high expectation especially since waste management is now a thorn in the flesh for national and global policy makers. Kamila explores the problem of global waste and examines the enduring challenge of waste management whereas our production seems are designed to generate continuous waste flows. With in-depth skill and evident knowledge, the author provides possible models that could help policy makers. She also discusses important tools such as the management of materials flows, which embraces prevention of waste generation in the first place, as the most effective way to avoid waste at all. Clearly, Dr. Kamila Pope is an authority in this field, and through this book, has provided valuable conceptual and practical solutions that will remain relevant for a long time. It is a text I highly recommend to students of environmental law, policy, management or governance; as well as academics and practitioners concerned with waste management across the world." * Dr. Robert Kibugi, Senior Lecturer in Law, School of Law, University of Nairobi *