Protecting health: always the first priority
A well-designed waste management system can reduce serious health risks for the community.
However, if not carefully planned, it can also introduce new ones – especially for waste workers and nearby residents. Below are four key areas to consider when designing your model.
1. Open burning and dumpsite exposure
Many communities use open burning to reduce waste volumes at both formal and informal dumpsites.
This releases toxic fumes, which can cause long-term respiratory and other health issues for nearby residents. If your model helps reduce burning – for example, by recovering and recycling more material – it can bring immediate health benefits. However, those benefits need to be weighed against any new risks created through recovery activities.
For example, if people are reclaiming plastic waste from a dumpsite that is burning, they will be at significant risk. That’s why at the Flipflopi we prefer to collect plastics directly from households.
2. Risks for waste collectors and recovery workers
Manual waste recovery can expose collectors to harmful materials, such as medical waste, sharp objects, or chemicals.
They can also experience injuries from heavy lifting, slips and trips.
Without proper protective equipment or training, these workers face a much higher risk of injury or illness. If your system relies on community-based collection or sorting, make sure safeguards are in place – including PPE, health and safety training, and regular monitoring.
3. Risks from recycling processes
While recycling keeps plastic out of the environment, it also carries potential health risks depending on how the process is managed.
Some machines produce fumes, and poorly handled water or chemicals can lead to contamination. These risks vary depending on the materials processed, the energy source used, and whether ventilation and waste treatment systems are in place.
Managing these risks through good facility design, safe practices, and proper oversight is essential.
4. Quality and durability of recycled products
The products made from recycled waste can also influence public health over time.
Turning plastic into short-life or poor-quality items may simply delay the problem, leading to more waste and exposure risks in the near future. Where possible, focus on creating durable, useful products that can be reused or recycled again – helping to avoid repeated cycles of disposal and pollution.
In short, a community waste model should aim not just to clean up the environment, but to actively reduce harm – especially for the most exposed groups.
This requires careful planning, investment in safe systems, and ongoing monitoring to protect both people and the planet.
Read more on the Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Human Health.
