The impact of waste on the phenomena of global warming is caused mainly by natural gas emissions released from the decomposition of the biodegradable portions in landfills. The potential contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gases of proper waste management is not limited to the impact of the final disposal, but also covers the entire integrated waste cycle. After a brief introduction by Dr. Eboli of the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change, Professor Caserini of the Politecnico di Milano will discuss strategies for the recovery of materials and the energy use of waste as well as possible reductions of greenhouse gas emissions from this sector. These practices along with the replacement of goods with services, dematerialisation, prevention, and developing processes of short supply chains, have enormous potential both to achieve environmental climate policies as well as to improve the efficiency of the economic system, with positive impacts on employment and economic development.