Unlocking Local Food Systems’ Zero Waste Potential

A Success Story from the Markets of Warwick

Written by Lily Nobel

Over the last 3 years, the Warwick zero waste composting project has taken food waste from the Early Morning Market (EMM) in the Markets of Warwick (a neighborhood in Durban, South Africa) and transformed it into nutrient-rich compost at the Durban Botanic Gardens. As landfills in South Africa are rapidly filling up, this project showcases the power of utilizing small spaces and limited resources to reduce methane emissions from the waste sector — a greenhouse gas 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide. According to the UNEP’s Global Methane Assessment, reducing methane is a crucial step to keep global warming under 1.5°C, the threshold established by the Paris Agreement.

Currently, this project is being upscaled across the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and revolutionizing organic waste management in the area–unlocking resources through saving public funds and creating locally accessible jobs. Empowered by strong partnerships among local organizations, and fueled by effective data collection, this pilot successfully demonstrates the potential of decentralized, environmental justice-centered composting that not only brings climate benefits but also promotes social interests.

Team members from groundWork, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Horticulture Department, the eThekwini Municipality Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit (PRC), the Cleansing and Solid Waste Unit (CSW), and the Business Support, Markets, Tourism and Agribusiness Unit (BSMTAU) pose together at the Durban Botanic Garden where the composting is done.
Collaboration at the Warwick Zero Waste Project. Photo credit: Lunga Benghu

Easily replicable decentralized composting model

In 2022, groundWork, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Horticulture Department, the eThekwini Municipality Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit (PRC), the Cleansing and Solid Waste Unit (CSW), and the Business Support, Markets, Tourism and Agribusiness Unit (BSMTAU) partnered to launch a composting pilot project in the Durban Botanic Gardens’ permaculture site. It quickly evolved from composting a weekly 240 liter bin of food and vegetable waste to building 12 large compost windrows that are currently maintained to mature compost in a 3-month cycle.

Before zero waste: Organic waste from the EMM goes to the nearest landfills – Buffelsdraai and Illovu landfills – over 35 km away from the city. Photo credit: Lunga Benghu

As of March 2024, the pilot has diverted over 72 tonnes of organic waste from landfills by collecting approximately 1.5 tonnes of organic waste from the EMM weekly in two separate collection points and combining this with approximately 1 tonne of garden waste. Since July 2023, the project has supplied over 41 tonnes of compost to the city’s PRC Unit, free of charge, for use in parks and community gardens across the municipality. Samples of the compost undergo regular testing —such as full nutrient analysis, pot trails, and microbial analysis— to refine the ‘recipe’ and to ensure quality control. These tests demonstrate the high quality of the compost produced.

Cost-saving public funds for waste management

While many waste projects often seek investment from external actors, this project utilizes existing resources to unlock significant savings from public funds. By diverting organic waste from landfills, the city reduces the costs associated with landfilling and landfill airspace, which in Durban is estimated to be approximately R1,774 (93 USD) per tonne of waste. The Buffelsdraai and Illovu landfills, the only two operating landfills in Durban, are both located 35 kilometers or more from the city center, leading to high transportation costs. Findings from a cost-benefit analysis report on the project show how the various city departments have the potential to save money from reduced waste management costs and access to free compost. To date, the parks department alone has saved R23,600 (1,250 USD) from compost received through the project. As the project scales up, the savings can be used to sustainably cover the salary of the staff who manage the composters. Unlike waste incineration projects, which require huge capital and operational costs and lock cities in a put-or-pay scheme for decades, this composting model saves the city money, which is then reinvested to rapidly scale the composting model, leading to even bigger savings and opportunities to scale, in a virtuous circle. 

Job creation through zero waste

This environmental justice-centered model composting project improves social realities in the area by providing local jobs. On a tonne-for-tonne basis, composting can create three times as many jobs as landfill and incineration. In South Africa, 42.2% of people aged 15-34 years are neither employed, nor enrolled in formal education or training programs as of the last quarter of 2023. As this project is scaled up, composting is estimated to create four jobs per 400 tons of waste processed. The project also improves the working conditions and social protections of the informal market traders, waste collectors, and composters. Moreover, the Warwick zero waste project prioritizes the employment of people from the market and local communities, rather than using machines that often require external experts. In contrast, incineration creates the least amount of jobs and requires workers with highly specialized skills that are not accessible to the local population.

The delivery of Early Morning Market organics to the compost site and windrow preparations. Photo credit: Lunga Benghu

Waste methane reduction for South Africa

Meanwhile, source-separated organic collection with composting demonstrates significantly higher climate mitigation and adaptation benefits. Composting alone can prevent as much as 99% of methane emissions that would otherwise come from landfills. When the finished compost is utilized in place of synthetic fertilizer, further GHG emissions are saved by reducing emissions of nitrous oxide, not to mention avoiding the fossil fuel emissions from creating fertilizer. The application of compost to the soil also boosts flood and drought resistance and increases carbon sequestration capacity.

Although South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) provide neither specific targets nor roadmaps for the waste sector, the Warwick zero waste project paves a crucial pathway to help the country improve its national climate goals. By proving the efficacy of decentralized composting projects, the Warwick site can be used as a model for the nation and other countries on how to invest in empowering and inclusive organic management projects powered by local organizations and communities, thereby maximizing municipal resources and local knowledge.

Zero waste markets in Durban and beyond

Currently, the project team and city partners are working on expanding waste collection from the EMM to compost all 400 tonnes of waste generated by the market every year. Alongside this expansion, the team plans to replicate the model in a second market, the Bangladesh Market. In the longer term, the project team is targeting all nine fresh fruit and vegetable markets in Durban, proving the model’s feasibility and efficacy on a larger scale. The project has drawn an increasing interest among other municipalities in South Africa, and the team is actively engaging with government officials across the country and region.

map of markets in Durban, South Africa. Aside from The Early Morning Market where the project is currently ongoing, 8 other fresh produce markets are highlighted in the map. eThekwini municipal markets targeted for scale up and in relation to the Buffelsdraai landfill. We are currently at the Early Morning Market and will be moving to the Bangladesh Market this year. Credit: Ayanda Mnyandu
Growing the zero waste composting model in all the markets in Durban starting with Early Morning Market then moving on to Bangladesh Market this year. Credit: Ayanda Mnyandu

No to incineration, go for zero waste

The cost-saving model demonstrated by the Warwick zero waste project can be upscaled rapidly with the right flow of capacity and resource support. This also means ceasing support for inflexible, costly, and carbon-intensive infrastructures, particularly waste incineration. Policymakers and financiers must ensure that investment in organic waste management projects must be aligned with Environmental Justice principles and inclusive of local organizations and knowledge to build lasting environmental and societal impact. 

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A significant step to comply with the Global Methane Pledge

Contributed by YPBB

In a significant and forward-thinking move, the West Java provincial government officially prohibited the disposal of organic waste in the Sarimukti landfill, located in the West Bandung Regency, effective January 1, 2024. This comes as a response to the  August 2023 Sarimukti landfill fires. The policy has the potential to divert 228,855 tons of organic waste per year from Bandung alone — preventing 575,428 tonnes CO2eq of methane emissions per year from the landfill. The West Java Provincial government has targeted a reduction of 754,154 tonnes CO2eq from all the landfills in West Java by 2030. This means that Bandung, the capital of the province, can contribute 75% of the set target.

Apart from reducing methane, this policy has the potential to contribute to environmental justice by significantly reducing river pollution caused by the landfill’s leachate, which is a water source for more than 6,000 people. If implemented in parallel with separate organic waste collection and treatment, cities could save significant costs, particularly on transportation, and it could also contribute to the local economy, creating 6 jobs per tonnes of waste managed, double the current system.

A fireman aims the water hose at a fire at a landfill in Sarimukti
The Sarimukti Landfill catches fire. source: Sindonews

Methane, a greenhouse gas 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide, is an increasingly significant global concern to deliver climate action. According to the UNEP’s Global Methane Assessment, reducing methane is a crucial step to keep global warming under 1´5ºC, the threshold established by the Paris Agreement. Interestingly, the Climate Transparency Report (2022) highlights that Indonesia’s waste sector is the country’s largest methane emitter.

In 2023, Sarimukti landfill, a regional landfill serving four cities in West Java, was projected to surpass its capacity. Landfill fires got out of control – AZWI reported 38 landfill fire occurrences in 2023,  attributing methane from organic waste as its root cause. Responding to this critical situation, the Bandung Zero Waste Forum and grassroots groups, particularly Friends of The Earth Indonesia (WALHI) and Yaksa Pelestari Bumi Berkelanjutan (YPBB) —members of Alliance for Zero Waste Indonesia (AZWI)— initiated intensive advocacy efforts, targeting the ban of organic waste landfilling and incineration, emphasizing how the air pollution was affecting waste pickers and the community around the landfill. By August 2023, provincial and local governments declared a waste emergency status, and soon after, the organic waste ban to landfill was sealed.

A waste worker in Bandung, Indonesia collects segregated at-source waste, he is seen transferring organic waste from a resident's trash bin to his collection cart.
An informal waste collector conducts separate collection in a neighborhood in Bandung. source: YPBB

Incinerator Threat Looms

However, while this policy is a critical milestone for the Metro Bandung area, the provincial government is risking this achievement with a Waste-to-Energy incinerator project proposal in Legok Nangka, a newly built regional landfill to replace Sarimukti. In opposition, WALHI has continuously warned the government about the hidden risks of incineration, emphasizing the risk of methane-to-carbon swapping, the obstacle it will pose to cities to achieve its climate and waste reduction targets, and its adverse impacts to local communities. Accordingly, YPBB and Bandung Zero Waste Forum advocate for coherent policies through alternative policy scenarios that do not rely on incineration. 

Furthermore, the organic waste ban to landfill should be implemented carefully. The government must not allow pitfalls as experienced by the European “zero waste to landfill” policy, which has resulted in an excess of incineration capacity in this region. The policy should be more ambitious by including a mandatory source separation, separate collection, and treatment of organic waste, and a ban on landfilling ‘untreated organic waste’.

Three protesters wearing complete PPEs protest the incinerator plans in Indonesia. On the left, the protester holds a placard that says in Bahasa Indonesia "Bakar Sampah Masalah Datang", the middle one's placard reads "Incinerator: Fake Solutions!"; and the protester on the right holds a placard that can only be partially seen
Local groups protest incinerator plans in Indonesia. source: WALHI

Zero Waste is Already Happening

It is critical that the organic waste ban to landfill policy drives and scales up the existing zero waste models. Nine zero-waste city models throughout Indonesia (Bandung City, Bandung Regency, Cimahi, Sumedang, Purwakarta, Karawang, Gresik, Denpasar and Gianyar) organized by AZWI cover a population of more than 478,000 people with an average of 40% waste segregation compliance rate, up to an 88% in the best cases, which is by far the highest in the country. In total, these zero waste models have the potential to reduce organic waste sent to landfill by 6,500 tons per year. In a recent report, YPBB and GAIA found that a city-scale zero waste implementation in Bandung is four times more climate-effective than incineration. The success of these zero waste initiatives has relied on two strategic pillars:

  1. implementation of waste prevention measures, source separation and separate collection of various waste streams, including organic waste; and
  2. strong community engagement with a clear priority for inclusion of informal waste collectors. Ultimately, local stakeholders have played a pivotal role in implementing the zero waste models that started with minimal government support.
Nine members of AZWI and DLH sit around a concrete table at an open public space in Bandung.
Aliansi Zero Waste Indonesia (AZWI) and Dyan Prasetyangningtyas (DLH Kota Surabaya) conduct a stakeholders meeting in Bandung. source: YPBB

In conclusion,  the level of ambition required in achieving Indonesia’s climate commitments, and the political momentum in West Java should be harnessed to drive systemic change. This can happen now thanks to decades of collective and dedicated work of local groups like YPBB, Bandung Zero Waste Forum, WALHI, and AZWI. To make the most of this, governments and financial institutions must create the right flow of resources and capacity — aligned with Environmental Justice principles — making the inclusion of local organizations a clear priority for a lasting impact.

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The No Burn Broome Campaign for Health and Environmental Protection

Endicott residents protest outside of the proposed SungEel lithium-ion battery recycling plant. — Photo courtesy of Dr. Paul Connett

In Endicott, Broome County, NY, a community-led campaign achieved a remarkable victory against the construction of a battery-burning facility, illustrating the power of collective action in the fight for environmental justice. The No Burn Broome campaign’s success in defeating a proposal for a lithium-ion battery recycling facility holds a profound significance for a community that had previously endured a decades-long legacy of pollution. Beyond this local triumph, this success also carries profound significance in the broader struggle to foster a just energy transition.  

SungEel MCC Americas, a joint South Korean and American company, proposed to build a lithium-ion battery recycling plant at 801 Clark Street in conjunction with a battery storage facility on South Franklin Street — close to a residential community, Union Endicott Schools, a grocery store, a pharmacy, churches, restaurants, baseball fields, and a park. The SungEel facility proposed to burn spent lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles and power packs from phones and other electronic devices.

Despite community opposition, New York state was prepared to invest $1.75 million into the project to set up in the former IBM complex in Endicott, Broome County. The Empire State Development (ESD) intended to finance a project with taxpayers’ money that promised little to no financial gain to the people of Endicott. The extracted valuable metals and much of the profit would have left the country, ultimately benefiting SungEel and a handful of investors. 

The facility would have processed 1 ton of lithium-ion batteries per hour, 12 hours a day, using incineration to recover expensive metals, such as cobalt and nickel, in the fly ash. This ash would have then been transported to South Korea for further processing. According to a Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives report, ash, air emissions, and toxic wastewater from incinerators pollute the ecosystem and harm human health. 

On March 30, 2020, the state issued an Air State Facility Permit to SungEel MCC Americas, outlining that the battery-burning facility would be “permitted” to emit at least four known carcinogens and other toxins. Though the Science Team of the No Burn Broome campaign was not included in the air permit process, they did reveal that the project may release Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” into the atmosphere. The No Burn Broome team revealed that SungEel failed to disclose toxic PFAS in its air permit application. The No Burn Broome Science Team also determined that the facility could emit other toxic substances, including dioxins, furans, hydrogen fluoride, toxic metals, nanoparticles, and more.

The Village of Endicott had historically suffered negative health impacts due to decades of industrial pollution from the former IBM complex. IBM, which employed a large workforce in Endicott, had discharged enormous amounts of Trichloroethylene (TCE) into the ground. This blatant pollution established the town as one of the most prominent examples of vapor intrusion, a phenomenon where volatile chemicals migrate from deep underground into the indoor air of buildings, primarily affecting residential homes. Endicott had already experienced a disproportionate incidence of cancer, and the SungEel plant would have been authorized to emit carcinogenic chemicals and pollutants.

Endicott resident wearing a shirt in protest of the SungEel battery-burning facility. — Photo courtesy of Dr. Paul Connett

At the risk of being subjected to another polluting facility’s environmental and health impacts, Broome County residents rallied behind Paul Connett’s passionate call to action against the battery-burning facility. His expertise as a retired chemistry professor and his years of dedication to environmental campaigning enabled him to galvanize communities across the region to block the plant from being built. 

Despite the Endicott Village mayor’s discouraging comment about the proposal being a “done deal” early on, local residents who allied themselves under the No Burn Broome campaign didn’t give up; they fought back by organizing rallies and protests, speaking at a public hearing, and writing to political leaders and the Board of Trustees. The organizers also formed a science group that found out about the PFAS releases and spread the word through social media and by placing signs of opposition throughout the village. This campaign was a successful organizing model that brought together people of all ages and walks of life, as well as experts from many fields. Their online anti-incineration petition was signed by 4,500 supporters, and the Facebook group has 2,000 anti-incinerator followers.

“Other than the atrocious location of the facility, the thing that stands out in my mind is that bearing in mind the health risks involved, just how little science was offered by the company. They claimed to have operated a facility in Korea for eight years and yet had only ONE dioxin measurement, with no third-party oversight. Even so, the NY Department of Environment Conservation (DEC) accepted this without requiring any further analysis! That was clear evidence in my mind that there was a political push behind this project,” said Dr. Paul Connett, Professor Emeritus in Environmental Chemistry at St. Lawrence University.

On February 1, 2021, No Burn Broome succeeded in blocking the controversial recycling law first passed on May 7, 2020. Thanks to a momentous turnout, 113 participants (primarily community members) were present, with an overwhelming 41 out of 42 people advocating for the repeal of the law known as “A Local Law Prohibiting Recycling Facilities in Industrial Zones,” which was ultimately rescinded by Endicott’s Board of Trustees. 

No Burn Broome’s victory stands as an inspiring example for future environmental justice fights driven by the relentless organizing efforts of Endicott residents. As we navigate the complexities of this transition, particularly with the imminent end-of-life phase for batteries, it is imperative that we remain vigilant against industry practices that disguise burning as recycling. This win demonstrates the impact of collective action in preserving the fundamental human right to clean air and ensuring our energy transition is rooted in justice.

Timeline of key events

9/27/2018 — Empire State Development announces $1.75 Million to build a new lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Endicott, Broome County.

3/30/2020 — Permit granted by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

5/7/2020 — 57 anti-incinerator residents spoke against it at a public hearing on recycling law.

9/2/2020 — Press Conference on Updated Position Paper by No Burn Broome.

9/16/2020 — The No Burn Broome Science team revealed that nearly all of the batteries that will be processed in the facility contain PFAS and called on the DEC to revoke SungEel’s Air permit.

11/16/2020 — Endicott Residents filed an Article 78 Lawsuit Against the Village Board of Trustees for Illegally Approving Controversial Recycling Code.

2/1/2021 — Recycling law was rescinded by the Board of Trustees. 

Por Soledad Mella, ANARCH. Colabora: Camila Aguilera, GAIA Latin America y Caribe.

(English version follows)

A veces se dice que el trabajo de las y los recicladores es una labor invisible. Sin embargo, es más apropiado decir que es una labor invisibilizada. Las y los recicladores del mundo somos tan visibles como los residuos que se apilan en los vertederos y como los efectos del cambio climático que experimentamos cada vez más seguido, el sistema que no nos reconoce como trabajadores es  lo que nos invisibiliza.

En América Latina, un continente donde la gestión de residuos a menudo desafía las capacidades espaciales y económicas de las ciudades, los recicladores se erigen como pilares fundamentales para la reducción de residuos, y al mismo tiempo contribuir a combatir el cambio climático. 

Las y los recicladores sabemos bien que las mejores estrategias de gestión de residuos son los sistemas de basura cero. Nuestro trabajo no está condicionado a un material en particular o a una mayor generación de residuos, sino todo lo contrario, la reducción en origen de materiales de un solo uso, la recolección diferenciada, y el reciclaje no tóxico, también son objetivos para las agrupaciones de recicladores.

Debido a esto, cuando los recicladores hablamos de transición justa no lo hacemos centrándonos ni en la cantidad de residuos ni en el acceso a un material en particular, sino que hacemos referencia a asuntos concretos relacionados con el reconocimiento, la visibilidad,  la integración, y la generación de oportunidades. 

En este sentido, la recuperación de residuos orgánicos hoy se abre como una gama de oportunidades para las y los recicladores. Una oportunidad que no estábamos viendo en forma transversal, a pesar de que sí tenemos compañeros comenzando a trabajar en el tema. Si bien la necesidad de reducir las emisiones de metano abre puertas, las necesidades para que podamos lograrlo son las mismas que tenemos cuando nos referimos a nuestro trabajo recuperando residuos sólidos domiciliarios, que son: financiamiento, infraestructura, maquinaria, transporte de logística, apoyo de un equipo técnico y administrativo, y capacitación. Con estas necesidades cubiertas, la recuperación de material orgánico puede entregar nuevas oportunidades no solo a recicladores, sino a más mujeres y hombres que pueden encontrar aquí una oportunidad de trabajo.  Por eso cuando se implementan políticas realmente orientadas a la justicia social y a la transición justa, esperamos que éstas garanticen derechos esenciales, entornos de trabajo seguros y saludables y contar con un acceso justo a los residuos. 

La Asociación de Recicladores de Chile, un gremio que agrupa a 5.000 recicladores, representando a un universo de 60.000 mil recicladores en todo el país, con 54 dirigentes regionales, desea embarcarse con mucha fuerza y compromiso en el tratamiento de residuos orgánicos. Primero con aquellos que cuentan con acceso a terreno, y luego con más recicladores cuando empecemos a ver los resultados de las políticas de inclusión y transición justa. Recordemos que nuestros compañeros que se encuentran actualmente trabajando en rellenos sanitarios y vertederos, deben entrar en un proceso de recambio frente a lo que significa el cierre de estos espacios. Esperamos que este proceso de cierre y transformación se traduzca en una oportunidad, en la que se pueda invertir y por qué no, convertir estos rellenos/vertederos en espacios de tratamiento de residuos orgánicos.

Las y los recicladores necesitamos -y queremos- que se generen las oportunidades que nos permitan hacernos cargo de los residuos sólidos domiciliarios y ahora también de los orgánicos en el marco de las leyes que se están implementando en nuestros países. Pero como mencioné anteriormente, las ambiciones de recuperación deben ir de la mano de las ambiciones de los gobiernos locales en cuanto a  inclusión e inversión.

 

Soledad Mella – National Association of Waste Pickers of Chile ANARCH

By Soledad Mella, ANARCH/RED Lacre. Contributor: Camila Aguilera, GAIA Latin America & the Caribbean.

It is sometimes said that the work of waste pickers is invisible. However, it is more appropriate to say that it has been made invisible. The waste pickers of the world are as visible as the waste piling up in landfills and the effects of climate change that we are experiencing more and more often. The system that does not recognize us as workers is what makes us invisible.

In Latin America, a continent where waste management often defies the spatial and economic capacities of cities, waste pickers stand as key pillars for waste reduction, and at the same time contribute to combating climate change.

Waste pickers know well that the best waste management strategies are zero waste systems. Our work is not dependent on a particular material or increased waste generation. On the contrary, the reduction of single-use materials at source, differentiated collection, and non-toxic recycling are also objectives for waste pickers’ groups.

Because of this, when waste pickers talk about just transition, we do not focus on the quantity of waste or access to a particular material, but rather we refer to concrete issues related to recognition, visibility, integration, and the creation of opportunities.

In this sense, the recovery of organic waste now opens up a range of opportunities for waste pickers. This is an opportunity that we were not seeing in a cross-cutting way, even though we do have colleagues starting to work on organics. While the need to reduce methane emissions opens doors, the needs for us to achieve this are the same as those we have when we refer to our work recovering household solid waste, which are: financing, infrastructure, machinery, transport logistics, support from a technical and administrative team, and training. With these needs covered, the recovery of organic material can provide new opportunities not only to waste pickers, but to more women and men who can find a job opportunity here.  So when policies that are truly oriented towards social justice and just transition are implemented, we expect them to guarantee essential rights, safe and healthy working environments and fair access to waste.

The Asociación de Recicladores de Chile (National Association of Waste Pickers of Chile ANARCH), a group of 5,000 waste pickers, representing a universe of 60,000 thousand waste pickers across the country, with 54 regional leaders, wants to embark with great strength and commitment on organic waste management. First with those who have access to land, and then with more waste pickers as we begin to see the results of inclusion and just transition policies. Also let’s remember that our colleagues who are currently working in landfills and dumpsites must enter into a process of readjustment in the face of what the closure of these spaces means. We hope that this process of closure and transformation will translate into an opportunity to invest in and, why not, convert these landfills into spaces for organic waste treatment.

We waste pickers need – and want – opportunities to be created that allow us to take care of household solid waste and now also organic waste within the framework of the laws that are being implemented in our countries. But as I mentioned earlier, recovery ambitions must go hand in hand with local government ambitions for inclusion and investment.

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Contributed by Movimento Nacional de Catadores de Materiais Recicláveis (MNCR)

The fight for environmental justice is strong in Brazil, and a powerful example is the social movement MNCR (Movimento Nacional de Catadores de Materiais Recicláveis or the National Movement of Waste Pickers), which has been organizing recyclable material collectors throughout Brazil for roughly 20 years. They seek to uplift waste pickers as important members of society, and fight for recognition, inclusion and appreciation of the work that they do.

Aline Sousa, CENTCOOP

 

For two decades, MNCR has played a crucial role in organizing waste pickers across the country. Their main platforms are advocating for independence and solidarity for the oppressed class, fighting against incineration and privatization of waste, minimizing environmental impacts, and building popular power to sustain the planet. 

 

Currently, it is estimated that there are between 800 thousand and 1 million waste pickers in Brazil. Around 1664 municipalities throughout the country have adopted separate collection, where waste pickers are responsible for 30% of the total mass collected. Also, 42% of these municipalities exclusively rely on waste pickers to carry out this activity. These professionals clearly play an essential role in waste management in Brazil.

One of the most prominent heroes of the movement is Aline Souza, who is currently serving her third term as President and Director of the Central das Cooperativas de Trabalho de Catadores de Materiais Recicláveis do Distrito Federal – CENTCOOP, and is a state representative of the National Movement of Waste Pickers of Federal District (MNCR-DF) and the National Secretariat for Women and Youth of Unicatadores.

The verb to rebuild and preserve has been part of Aline’s life since she was a child. At the age of 14, she started helping her grandmother with her recycling work, and since then she has worked in the sector, making recycling a way to transform her life and the lives of the people who work with her. She is part of the third generation of waste pickers in her family and is the mother of seven children. As a teenager, she dreamed of studying law. During the pandemic, she managed to get a 90% scholarship to study law, but today she has stopped her studies due to personal and professional demands.

Her grassroots organization is called CENTCOOP, made up of 23 waste picker cooperatives. The CENTCOOP advocates for the social recognition of waste pickers, strengthens environmental education on recycling and the shared solid waste management, and contributes to the development of waste picker-led collection systems. 

In 2023, CENTCOOP launched CREAR/DF – Centro de Referência em Educação Ambiental do Distrito Federal (Reference Center for Environmental Education in the Federal District), to educate the public on waste separation, engaging civil society, the private sector, public authorities and waste picker cooperatives to increase the quality of the solid waste that arrives at the cooperatives. Approximately 60% of the waste that the cooperatives in the Federal District currently receive is contaminated, and becomes refuse. Therefore educating and informing the population is key to improving segregated collection and municipal solid waste (MSW) management for a circular economy.

Proper waste management is not only an essential municipal service,  but a lynchpin for the climate. Today, Brazil collects 65.6 million tons of MSW yearly. Although 45.6%of waste collected is organic, only 0.4% is composted. Currently, only 2% is diverted from disposal: landfills receive 71.6% of the total waste collected and dumps 26.4%. The country emits 5.5% of global methane emissions, with the waste sector accounting for 16%, placing organic waste disposal as the second largest source of methane emissions in Brazil.

With this in mind, CENTCOOP has been developing a project to divert organic waste from the landfill in order to mitigate emissions from this sector, through the creation of a composting plant and a organic waste separate collection scheme, supported by the Pólis Institute and the Global Methane Hub (GMH). 

 

Today, composting systems operated by waste pickers generate three to five times more jobs than landfills, highlighting the potential for expanding these operations. Composting not only has a positive impact on the local economy, but also recognizes organic solid waste as an economic asset with social value. This generates work and income and promotes citizenship, as advocated by the National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS). 

In addition to valuing the main players in the MSW management system and the most vulnerable population, the new MSW management models– which include waste picker-led composting operations– are part of a just transition and have a positive impact on the economy. The role of waste pickers is fundamental, not only as a legal priority in MSW management, but as drivers of social technologies that increase recycling and boost local development. The Environmental justice principles demonstrated by MNCR provide dignity and job creation for marginalized groups, while reducing methane emissions from the waste sector and promoting a circular economy.

 

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Contributed by Trivandrum Municipal Corporation (TMC)

The Zero Waste Story of Trivandrum, India

Trivandrum is the capital city of Kerala, the southernmost state of India. In 2011, the city was hit hard by the shutdown of its only municipal landfill at Vilappilsala (in the city outskirts) after locals protested the mismanagement of waste at the site. It was then that the city’s local body decided to shift its waste management practices to a decentralized system. The Trivandrum Municipal Corporation (TMC) is the largest local self-government institution with 100 wards, about 1 million in population, and an area of 214.86 sq. km.  Being the capital city, there is also a floating population of 200 thousand per day. The city produces around 423 tons of waste per day out of which more than 70 percent is organic waste.

The decentralized waste management system of TMC introduced segregated collection of waste ensuring source-level composting and decentralized resource recovery. This is done with the help of 1,139 ‘Haritha Karma Sena’ (Green Action Force) members who are tasked to collect non-biodegradable waste materials from each household. For this, they earn a user fee of Rs.100 per month from each house that they visit. The Haritha Karma Sena (HKS) members, 90 percent of whom are women, visit every house twice a month for plastic collection. The municipal corporation also has a calendar made for non-biodegradable waste collection according to which the people should hand over different types of waste material to HKS in allotted months (for example, old cloth, bags, and sandals in October). The collected non-biodegradables are then sent to authorized recyclers.

The city follows source-level composting for organic waste. Each household has access to bio-waste management facilities provided by the local body, such as composting bins or kitchen bins, pipe compost, biogas plants, etc. which are provided at a highly subsidized cost. Communities or households who do not have enough space to plant such source-level composting facilities can drop their bio-waste at the nearby aerobic bins. There are close to 60 aerobic bins distributed to the 100 wards in the city. These aerobic bins have trained staff who process the waste to convert it to compost that is used for urban farming. Bulk generators like hotels, restaurants, commercial establishments, community halls, and institutions are also responsible for segregating their waste at source. They then have to hand over their non-bio waste to the HKS and wet waste to authorized pig farmers or plant owners who process and use it for animal feed.

The city also introduced a ‘Green Protocol,’ (a set of measures to reduce waste generation), the first in India to do so. A large group of youth leaders called the Green Army volunteers assist the city corporation to enforce the Green Protocol at all major events and festivals, raise awareness against littering, promote alternative products, and many more vital activities. 

This formalization of decentralized resource recovery, source-level segregation, and composting are examples of zero waste solutions that are based on the principles of environmental justice:

  1.     The Green Protocol measures and promotion of alternative products through Green Army youth volunteers’ awareness campaigns are meant to advance the commitments of governments, the public, and private institutions to reducing consumption, thereby reducing their carbon footprint. This is a major step towards respecting planetary boundaries and ensuring intergenerational equity.
  2.     The HKS helps to keep the city clean and aids every household to manage their waste responsibly. The mandatory user fee payment to HKS, forming the HKS consortium, pays for green uniforms, necessary equipment for safe waste collection, and training sessions to HKS to convert them to Green Technicians who can provide technical assistance to every household and institution in using source-level composting technologies. These initiatives show how the city corporation ensures and promotes respect for workers in the field of waste management. They are not seen as waste pickers but as a part of the city corporation’s enforcement force.
  3.     Trivandrum’s decentralized waste management infrastructure also enhances inclusion– many HKS members and Green Army volunteers are from different social backgrounds. The city corporation also makes sure that all communities in the city have access to the facilities and technologies for waste management.
  4.     The officials of the corporation’s health wing have a day and night patrolling squad to prevent littering. The squad acts as an enforcement agency that imposes a fine for non-compliance. The state has introduced a new scheme that rewards 10 percent of the punishment fine to responsible individuals who report such violations, with evidence, to the squad. These measures ensure that there is accountability for environmental harm.
  5.     These practices’ combined yields generate income for waste management facilitators or HKS, leading to a just transition. It ensures a sense of responsibility among the public, especially the youth, in managing waste. The program also promotes a critical narrative shift amongst the general populous– that what we see as trash is actually a resource. This systemic point of view has led to increased adoption of holistic solutions for zero waste.

The TMC has ensured stakeholder participation in solid waste management and has adopted creative and scientific methods for methane reduction, which undoubtedly make the city a model in solid waste management that can be followed by other states and nations through necessary modifications that suit their local characteristics.

 

References

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/waste/ten-zero-waste-cities-how-thiruvananthapuram-cleaned-up-its-act-68539

https://haritham.kerala.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Thiruvananthapuram-1.pdf

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/accidental-shift-to-decentralised-waste-management-helps-thiruvananthapuram/article66675058.ece

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2023/mar/26/thiruvananthapuram-corporation-budget-gives-thrust-to-green-initiatives-2559568.html

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/civic-body-to-develop-smart-waste-management-system/articleshow/101793009.cms

https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/waste-dumped-near-operation-theatre-tvm-corporation-slaps-rs-10k-fine-on-govt-hospital-1.8968704

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/improper-waste-disposal-892-establishments-served-notice/articleshow/99199073.cms

 

 

 

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Contributed by Mahesh Pandya, Paryavaran Mitra

Paryavaran Mitra’s Efforts to Promote Zero Waste

India’s remarkable journey of economic growth and development has brought with it a modern dilemma – an escalating plastic waste crisis. The rapid industrialization and urbanization of the country have significantly increased the consumption of plastic products leading to dire consequences on the environment.

When we dive into statistics it shows us the real picture of the problem and the urgent need for sustainable solutions:

  • India has an annual production of plastic of over 20 million tonnes.
  • Single-use plastics account for a substantial portion of the plastic waste generated in India. These items often end up in landfills, water bodies, and streets.
  • According to estimates, India recycles only about 60% of the total plastic waste generated.
  • With over 60,000 tons of plastic waste entering the marine ecosystem annually.
  • Burning of plastic waste releases harmful toxins into the environment risking biodiversity.

The characteristic appearance of Paryavaran Mitra on plastic waste awareness and working with stakeholders are some small yet efficacious steps towards the abatement of plastic pollution.

Waste Connect on 20th January 2023 was a stakeholder meeting organized by Paryavaran Mitra in which waste pickers, environmentalists, and experts from various fields participated. The discussion was regarding regular stable income, better working conditions for rag pickers, upliftment of the waste picker community, and ensuring a better linkage between different stakeholders. The final decision was to represent each issue to the municipal corporation together.

Due to the intervention of Paryavaran Mitra, the Government of Gujarat declared a welfare policy for waste pickers. If they collect single-use plastics and multi-layer plastic then they will get 3 Rs. per kilo up to 15 kg per day maximum for 15 days in a month. But that’s not sufficient and we are trying our best to increase the limits of days, volume, and price.

Paryavaran Mitra is demanding the government to segregate waste at its source. As in most cities of Gujarat, segregation does not happen at the source.

Ahmedabad Zero Waste Fair on 22nd January 2023 was organized on the occasion of “International Zero Waste Month 2023”, as a series of events in collaboration with Gujarat Pollution Control Board. At this fair, students from 15 schools in Ahmedabad City participated and presented their projects. Paryavran Mitra also invited stakeholders to a seminar in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, Gujarat Pollution Control Board to create awareness about plastic pollution among stakeholders.

Green Catalyst, the youth wing of Paryavaran Mitra organized 10 community awareness programs titled: Lifestyle for Environment – Challenges, Solutions and Initiatives in different localities of Ahmedabad in May – June 2023 with Lok Manch and St. Xavier’s Social Service Society. The attempt was to take aim at some common environmental issues such as waste disposal, solid waste management, plastic waste generation, water pollution, climate change, and air pollution with a special focus on Lifestyle for the environment i.e., how we as individuals can bring change in our day-to-day lives that is sustainable and helps in conserving and protecting our environment. Green Catalyst volunteers of Paryavaran Mitra worked collectively to put together a 10-minute skit. The program was started by asking questions to the audience. The skit advocated towards the use of cloth bags rather than plastic ones. It was made interesting for the audience by familiarizing cloth bags as gifts on answering correctly the series of questions about the skit.

GC volunteers are in regular communication with waste pickers. The role of Paryavaran Mitra is to sensitize GC for human rights. Waste pickers are generally climate refugees who migrated from BanasKantha district (North Gujarat) to the big city of Ahmedabad. As the region is semi-arid and agriculture depends only on monsoon and is uncertain these days due to climate change, they shifted to picking plastics in the city.

Paryavaran Mitra also aided the waste pickers during Covid-19 by providing them with ration kits according to their needs and requirements.

In summation, the indefatigable efforts of Paryavaran Mitra are contributing to ameliorating the scourge of plastic pollution and promoting zero waste. Through assiduous advocacy, relentless awareness campaigns, and collaborative initiatives, we have caused a metanoia in society’s perception of plastic waste, fostering a nascent era of eco-consciousness.

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Contributed by Dr. Shahriar Hossain, Environmental and Social Development Organization

 

Empowering Communities: A Tale of Methane Reduction through Zero Waste Approaches

In a world grappling with the consequences of climate change, it is imperative to celebrate the success stories that pave the way toward a sustainable and toxic-free future. Today, we share a remarkable journey of environmental stewardship and community empowerment, spearheaded by the Environmental and Social Development Organization – ESDO. This story illuminates the transformative power of zero-waste approaches, demonstrating how they not only reduce methane emissions but also exemplify the core principles of Environmental Justice.

Distributing bin and composters for organic farming to local people in Rangpur, Bangladesh

A Vision Turned Reality: Zero Waste Community at Rangpur, Bangladesh

We, at ESDO, envision zero waste as a solution to reduce food loss, as well as waste management, and as a strategy to build an organic, eco-friendly and sustainable future. Therefore, we embarked on visionary initiatives, establishing a biogas plant and educating people of organic food production and sustainable soil management, ensuring soil and environmental health and ultimately, public health in Rangpur, Bangladesh. This approach utilized a proper waste management system to support two families. By converting organic waste into biogas, this project not only provided energy but also significantly contributed to reducing methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas responsible for climate change. Furthermore, ESDO encouraged 300 families (150 families in Betgari Union and 150 in Rangpur) to use ‘Twin Pit Earth Composter’ to manage waste effectively for organic food production, and soil health management, while ensuring sustainable agricultural practices. We aimed to make the rural people in Bangladesh aware of the necessity of waste segregation through the 4R strategy (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Refill). We also set out to inform the communities on how they can mitigate environmental pollution impact through their daily activities, and build their adaptation potential in the emerging changing climate situation the world is facing. 

‘Twin Pit Earth Composter’ at Betgari Union, Rangpur, Bangladesh

Uplifting Environmental Justice Values

Equity, democracy, sustainability and community empowerment – these are the foundational pillars of environmental justice that our project embodies. By building zero waste communities in Rangpur District, we champion the idea that every individual, regardless of socio-economic status, can actively contribute to mitigating climate change and act as a change-making agent. This project fosters equitable access to resources and opportunities, ensuring that vulnerable communities are not left behind in the fight against the climate crisis. They can potentially participate in climate change action and significantly contribute to a single step in organic crop production through composting, changing the food production system and preventing food loss with the burgeoning population in Bangladesh.

 

Positive Impact and Success Metrics

Global methane emissions have increased by roughly 25 percent since 1990 to almost nine billion metric tons of CO₂ equivalent. During this period, the average annual atmospheric methane abundance has increased by 11 percent and reached a record high of 1,895 parts per billion (ppb) in 2021.[1] In this case, the impact of ESDO’s zero waste initiatives is tangible and far-reaching. Apparently, 47 percent of Dhaka’s methane emission is caused by waste. The study identifies 13 dumps where garbage is left in the open to decompose leading to methane emissions.[2] Through the implementation of the biogas plant and waste management programs, an impressive amount of organic waste can be diverted from landfills, thereby reducing methane emissions substantially. Moreover, our zero waste project in the Rangpur District has not only reduced greenhouse gas emissions but has also created job opportunities within the community. By providing employment, zero waste projects empowered individuals, fostered economic resilience and enhanced overall community well-being. If sufficient funds are available, ESDO will establish biogas plants in every possible district in Bangladesh to send a message to world environment leaders that positive change is possible if we work together, cultivating a pollution-free tomorrow for posterity.

Biogas Plant at Betgari Union, Rangpur, Bangladesh

 

Inspiring Change, Building More Zero Waste Communities

The success of ESDO’s initiatives serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring not only the communities directly involved but also national governments, local authorities and decision-makers worldwide. These stories are not just tales of environmental triumph but also testimonials of the efficacy of Environmental Justice Values and Principles in action.

By building zero waste communities, ESDO showcases the transformative potential of grassroots initiatives. These endeavors emphasize the importance of inclusive, participatory approaches in mitigating climate change. As we approach COP 28, it is crucial for all stakeholders – governments, funders, practitioners, and think tanks – to recognize and adopt similar principles in their methane reduction plans.

 

 

[1] https://www.statista.com/topics/10289/methane-emissions-worldwide/#topicOverview

[2] https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/editorial/news/beware-methane-leaks-3281241

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Contributed by IDIS Davao

As the Philippines grapples with pressing environmental challenges, the Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability, Inc. (IDIS) stands at the forefront of advocating for sustainable development in the Philippines. We advocate for a just transition and the adoption of sustainable methods that prioritize the well-being of both the environment and the Filipino people, and firmly oppose the adoption of the Waste-to-Energy Incineration (WTE) project in Davao City.

IDIS consistently asserts that the Waste-to-Energy Incinerator project is a detrimental band-aid solution that does not effectively address our country’s waste management challenges. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and the “No to Single-Use Plastics Ordinance” in Davao City are existing policies meant to catapult a green transition, yet they continue to be neglected or ineffectively enforced. 

The present condition of the Sanitary Landfill (SLF) in Brgy. New Carmen clearly demonstrates this predicament, as it has already exceeded its maximum capacity. This is primarily attributed to the indiscriminate disposal of unsegregated biodegradable waste, which further increases methane production. This is a clear violation of the legal requirement that such waste shall not be disposed of in the aforementioned Sanitary Landfill.

 

WTE: an environmental threat that poses great risks to the Davao’s future

A study published by Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, an Environmental Science and Engineering Professor at Silliman University in Negros Oriental, unveiled that Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incinerators emit significant amounts of toxic compounds known as dioxins and furans. The inhalation of such harmful substances is linked with the development of tumors, cancer, asthma, and several other life-threatening diseases. Moreover, the by-products of incineration also exhibit limited dissipation, persisting in the environment for extended periods of time. The persistence of these hazardous compounds is estimated to be around 500 years, potentially exerting adverse effects on 10 to 40 successive generations. 

Furthermore, under the “Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999”, incinerating municipal, bio-medical, and hazardous wastes is prohibited due to the poisonous and toxic fumes they emit. 

 

Safeguarding tomorrow: a just and equitable transition within reach

Refusing investments in environmentally harmful energy sources is not just an ecological position, it is also a commitment to safeguarding the health and welfare of the general public. The implementation of a Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Incinerator is a flawed and destructive “solution,” with detrimental health implications on the local population and environment. The preservation of clean air, unpolluted water, and a flourishing environment are not mere luxuries; they are essential rights that demand the active protection and oversight of the government.

As Davao City finds itself at a pivotal crossroad, where the actions of its current administration can have far-reaching implications, IDIS continues to call on the government to serve as a paradigmatic model of sustainable development. By adopting proactive measures that embrace sustainable alternatives and strongly reject financial support for dirty energies such as the Waste-to-Energy Incineration Project, sustainable development becomes a feasible reality that facilitates a just and equitable transition.

 

Advocating for REAL solutions: Zero Waste

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