Around half the urban population in developing countries have no access to controlled waste disposal systems. In most cases, the need for environmentally sound waste disposal methods is completely ignored.

By providing appropriate waste management solutions, GTZ-supported projects help to reverse the continual risk to public health, and to curb water, soil and air pollution. Policy advisory services encourage the switch to environmentally sound, resource-conserving recycling management. For industry, the aim is to ensure that any hazardous wastes produced do not pose a risk to the environment.

GTZ's partners are municipal administrations, local and regional associations, and national, federal or regional authorities and ministries with full or partial responsibility for waste management. GTZ project partners in the industrial waste management sector are public institutions, industrial associations and chambers, and the industries themselves.

GTZ tackles the above challenges in the following areas: