Waste and health: Understanding risks and protecting people

(Estimated learner time: 2 hours)

Course description

This course explores how poor waste management affects human health, who is most exposed to risk, and what practical actions can reduce harm in real-world waste systems. It shows how day-to-day waste management practices can expose workers and communities to serious health risks, and how those risks can be reduced through practical, low-cost action.

Who this course is for

This course is for people involved in the day-to-day management of waste, including those working in:

• municipal and local waste services
• community-based and NGO-led waste programmes
• informal or semi-formal waste systems
• environmental health and sanitation

What learners will gain from this course

By the end of this course, learners will:

• understand the main health risks that arise from handling, collecting, sorting, and disposing of waste
• recognise who is most exposed to those risks, and how everyday practices create exposure pathways
• identify practical, low-cost ways to reduce harm for waste workers and communities
• feel more confident in assessing health risks and discussing them with colleagues and decision-makers

How to use this course

Focus on the lesson introductions, key messages, and practical examples. Use the course to help you recognise risks in your own context and think through realistic ways to reduce harm.