Waste and human health: Evidence and needs Meeting report - November 2015

Management of waste is a demanding and challenging undertaking in all European countries, with important implications for human health and well-being, environmental preservation, sustainability and economy. Comprehensive legal frameworks, mainly developed on the basis of environmental criteria, exist that regulate waste management. Compliance with these regulations has resulted in significant progress; however concerns remain as to the possible health impacts of waste circulation, management and disposal, especially in connection with informal practices and obsolete technologies. The available scientific evidence on the waste-related health effects is not conclusive, but suggests the possible occurrence of serious adverse effects, including mortality, cancer, reproductive health, and milder effects affecting well-being. This evidence, combined with the growing importance of sustainability considerations, should allow Member States of the WHO Regional Office for Europe to formulate health-friendly policy orientations.