Waste refers to materials at the end of their life cycle or substances that have undergone physical or chemical alteration. In essence, it's anything no longer useful to us that we choose to discard. Waste can be categorized based on its source: household waste (from individuals) and waste from economic activities (industrial, service sectors, construction, etc.).

Globally, waste production has reached approximately 2.01 billion tonnes per year. In the European Union, 2.23 billion tonnes of waste were generated in 2022, averaging 4,991 kg per capita.https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Waste_statistics Notably, the construction sector was responsible for 38.4% of the total waste generated, highlighting its significant contribution to overall waste production .

In a society dominated by disposability, waste management becomes a critical issue impacting human health (due to the prevalence of microplastics and nanoplastics), livelihoods, the environment (soil and water pollution), and various ecosystems.

Nature operates without waste; everything is designed to be circular. However, human activities generate vast amounts of waste that do not naturally decompose. It's imperative to curb overconsumption, reassess our needs, and promote the circular use of objects and materials. Remember: the best waste is the one we don't produce.