ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS OF MUNICIPAL WASTE IN AZERBAIJAN

Abstract

Waste generation inflicts severe damage on the environment, human health, and ecosystems. However, this issue can be minimized through proper management and shifts in individual habits. Plastic waste dumped into oceans and forests causes the deaths of millions of marine animals and birds each year. Animals ingest plastic, mistaking it for food, or perish after becoming entangled in it. Research indicates that the solution to this problem should not be confined solely to the actions of government agencies and relevant enterprises, but must encompass all segments of society. Raising public ecological awareness, reshaping consumption culture, reducing the use of single-use plastic products, and sorting waste at its source are vital steps in this direction. In particular, integrating the “3Rs” principles – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle – into daily life can decrease waste volume and enable a more efficient utilization of natural resources.