Harald Friedl’s Post

Impossible? It’s up to you to decide which definition you choose. We don’t do things because they’re easy. We do them because they serve our purpose. The challenging first step is aligning our purposes with one another.

I bet the large majority is organic waste that shouldn't even be there in the first place.

I’m always impressed by how real you get with your work Harald. Not just circular theory, not just lots of consulting, but real lived experience. From my perspective that’s the only way to see a way through.

Wow, this really means being on the front lines. Totally agree, Harald Friedl you can see and feel the problem firsthand, it gives you clarity, motivation, and inspiration to act!💪

Bravo !!! The untapped potential of circular solutions and the invaluable role of frontliners, like waste pickers, are keys to transforming the system!! 

Danke für deine Arbeit!

To sustain the existence of giant companies like BIC, which manufacture single-use plastic products such as lighters and pens, they produce 1.5 billion lighters and 2 billion pens annually—products that end up in the trash every year since 1950. If we factor in other companies with similar production volumes, the numbers become staggering. I repeat: if the EU had the same “sensitivity” it showed regarding Apple chargers, imagine the environmental impact such measures could address. And yet, others are blamed for not recycling. The problem is obvious and starts at the top. When the decision is made to change the industrialization model to something more responsible, many giant corporations that produce waste will shut down, while complicit politicians turn a blind eye and feign ignorance. When it came to Apple, however, they were adamant. This is the global theater of the absurd—driven entirely by profit. Now, let’s talk about Africa…

They have extremely poor municipal solid waste management infrastructure along with hazardous open dumps. The only solution at this point is upgrading that infrastructure and moving toward sanitary landfills that protect the environment whilst capturing and utilizing landfill gas-to-energy. This is the best option at cost, scale and practice. Organic only collection can be an option but the basics of MSW Managment need to be achieved before anything else. Effective MSW managment is the foundation on which everything else can be built upon.

I admire you Harald Friedl . Longtime ago, as a manager for a cement company, i learned how wastes can be used as alternative fuels to produce cement. I know there are still countries who are importing dry wastes to use them as alternative fuels because in thier countries the municipal wastes have issues with the selectivity and the humidity processes. I see few urgent problems to solve: 1) learning process: teaching people ( including kids in schools) about wastes and the entire process of waste, disposal and waste management, about the impact of wastes on environment and communities on short, medium and long term; 2) use of urban and suburban tools and equipment to select, collect, dispose and recycle wastes: providing real and affordable means and tools to people for majority of types of wastes ; people should have easy access to information on where to send the wastes which are not municipal wastes and not common wastes selected ( i.e., used clothes, used shoes; used refrigerants and used air filters from the air conditioning units). 3) communication -by law - in everything we produce and use to be seen in the producer label : people to know about the life cycle of the product; 4) landfill sites monitored ; etc

In the heart of the waste crisis lies an untapped reservoir of innovation. By focusing on the overlooked parts of the system, such as informal waste pickers, we not only create economic opportunities but also build a circular economy that benefits everyone. Transforming waste into resource requires deep empathy and creativity, and working directly in these challenging environments is where real change begins.