About WasteWise
WasteWise is a technical data architecture that integrates data and analytics to enable the circular economy. It provides the decision intelligence needed to plan, prioritize and invest in circular resource recovery systems.
WHY WASTEWISE?
Waste is one of the most visible signs of a linear economy — resources are extracted, used and discarded, while valuable nutrients, energy and materials are lost.
For planners, enterprises, researchers and investors, the challenge is not only recognizing this opportunity, but having the data and decision tools to identify where waste is generated, what can be recovered, and which circular solutions are most viable.
WasteWise is a decision-support tool: it turns waste data into practical evidence for identifying hotspots, assessing recovery potential and prioritising circular solutions.
This version focuses on organic waste because it is abundant, heterogeneous and emissions-intensive when mismanaged. It also holds nutrients that can be redirected from urban back to soils, supporting regenerative agriculture, circular farms and local resource economies.
Our Partnership Vision
WasteWise welcomes collaboration with organizations working to advance circular waste management, resource recovery and data-driven planning. Our partners help improve waste datasets, support field validation, co-develop use cases, test the tool in new geographies and translate insights into practical circular economy action.
WasteWise is expanding…
… and we need data partners.
Help us expand WasteWise by contributing waste datasets, local insights and validation support for new geographies.
Genesis and Roadmap
WasteWise has evolved through successive phases of scientific innovation, software development and strategic partnerships. From its initial concept to today’s interactive decision-support platform, each phase has expanded its analytical capabilities, improved the user experience and extended its geographical reach. Learn more about WasteWise journey so far.
Conceptual Framework
IWMI establishes the scientific vision, technical architecture and decision-support framework for WasteWise.
Data Architecture
Development of the core waste databases, technology datasets and analytical models that underpin the platform.
Alpha Platform
The first operational prototype, Organic DSS, was developed with software development support from Sustainability Intelligence, integrating waste data from Ghana and Vietnam.
Beta Platform
WasteWise undergoes a major redesign with a new platform architecture, user interface and decision-support workflow, with design and development support from Umwelt Design LLP.
Release Candidate
WasteWise is further enhanced with advanced analytics, basin-level assessment, expanded geographical coverage and improved platform performance, with development support from Pixelrun UK Ltd.
Looking Ahead
Future development will focus on expanding geographic coverage, integrating new datasets and technologies, strengthening analytical capabilities through rigorous uncertainty and sensitivity analyses, developing country dashboards, enhancing citizen engagement, and improving accessibility through mobile and offline applications.