The Reflections series synthesizes lessons from past evaluations to support organizational learning about what works and what doesn't. This paper examines past evaluations to provide six lessons from UNDP support to waste management:

1. Waste management can benefit the most vulnerable and promote social inclusion and cohesion.
2. Risk management built on previous projects’ lessons learnt and the establishment of capable project units in vulnerable areas promote efficiency.
3. UNDP support to waste management is most effective when a capacity development approach is adopted, promoting positive systemic changes and sustainability.
4. Support to the disrupted capacities of local councils for waste collection and disposal can contribute to enhanced decentralized governance.
5. Public Private Partnerships and tariffs for improved service delivery provide valuable avenues to recover costs.
6. Economic and proximity incentives can help the sustainable management of the higher quantity of medical and electronic waste likely generated by the COVID-19 pandemic.