The Burden of Waste: Environmental Justice, Health Risks, and Socioeconomic Disparities Near Waste Management Facilities

Research on waste management facilities has raised concerns about the unequal distribution of environmental burdens, particularly in relation to socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity, and the associated public health implications. This narrative review evaluates evidence on environmental justice issues linked to residential proximity to major waste facilities, with special attention to municipal, medical, and hazardous waste incinerators, landfills, and composting plants. A literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, complemented by selected grey literature, covered publications from January 1, 1980, to May 15. 2026, with emphasis on more recent and influential studies. Overall, the literature indicates a consistent pattern in which waste facilities are more frequently located near communities characterized by lower income levels and higher proportions of racial and ethnic minorities across different countries and regulatory contexts. Epidemiological studies suggest associations between proximity to such facilities and increased risks of certain cancers, respiratory conditions, and adverse reproductive outcomes. However, causality is not always firmly established. Moreover, recent work highlights the importance of cumulative exposures and social vulnerability in shaping health risks. Emerging research on composting facilities suggests a more complex picture, involving both potential environmental burdens and localized benefits. On a global scale, the concept of waste colonialism has been used to describe the transfer of waste-related risks from higher- to lower-income regions. Addressing these challenges requires policies that integrate environmental health evidence with equity considerations, promote transparent decision-making, ensure meaningful community participation, and strengthen regulatory oversight to reduce disproportionate impacts.