Plastic & Climate: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet
Everyone knows what causes climate change: fossil fuels. What’s less known is that plastic is also a climate polluter, as it is made from fossil fuels, such as crude oil, coal, and natural gas. New research published by Center for International...
read moreThe Hidden Climate Polluter: Plastic Incineration
By Doun Moon, Research Associate and co-author of Plastic & Climate: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet Everyone knows what causes climate change: fossil fuels. What’s less known is that plastic is also a climate polluter, as it is made from fossil...
read moreUN Decides to Control Global Plastic Waste Dumping
Major Plastic Waste Producers Must Get Consent Before Exporting their Toxic Trash to Global South FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 10, 2019 Geneva, Switzerland — Today, 187 countries took a major step forward in curbing the plastic waste crisis by adding plastic...
read moreNew research exposes a crisis in the global trade of “recyclable” plastics
Hong Kong / Berkeley, USA, 23 April 2019 — Water contamination, crop death, illness, and the open burning of plastic waste have all flooded into Southeast Asia along with the world’s “recycled” plastics, according to a report by GAIA (Global Alliance for...
read moreMeet our Members ZWE – Za Zemiata
Za Zemiata Interview with Evgenia Tasheva, from Za Zemiata by Sarah Martin Za Zemiata (ZZ) is an independent non-profit non-governmental organization established in 1995 to work for environmental justice and sustainable and equitable life on our planet, without...
read moreGreen groups to Nestlé: “Own up, pay up, clean up your act!”
MANILA, Philippines (April 10, 2019) — A day before Nestlé’s Annual General Meeting, over a hundred activists belonging to the global #breakfreefromplastic movement trooped to Nestlé’s Philippine headquarters today to demand accountability for...
read moreToxics & Climate Activists Unite Against Covanta
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 8, 2019 Contact: Lisa Arkin, Beyond Toxics, larkin@beyondtoxics.org 541-465-8860 Damon Motz-Storey, Oregon PSR, damon@oregonpsr.org, 303-913-5634 Toxics & Climate Activists Unite Against Covanta Coalition calls on Oregon State Senators to...
read moreCampaign Statement Celebrates Detroit Incinerator Closure as Step Toward Environmental Justice
Campaign Statement Celebrates Detroit Incinerator Closure as Step Toward Environmental Justice Protections for workers, residents and move toward zero waste still crucial For Immediate Release News from Breathe Free Detroit Wednesday, March 27,...
read moreMeet our Members: Ecology Center Berkeley
The Ecology Center: Turning the recycling crisis into an opportunity for Zero Waste On April 22nd, 1970, communities across the United States celebrated the first Earth Day. This national event-- the largest mass demonstration in the country until the...
read morePlastics Exposed: How Waste Assessments and Brand Audits are Helping Philippine Cities Fight Plastic Pollution
[This Executive Summary has been updated to reflect the correct figures on plastic bag use in the Philippines: every day, almost 48 million shopping bags are used throughout the Philippines, or roughly 17.5 billion pieces a year.] EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Single-use...
read moreGAIA Report | Plastics Exposed: How Waste Assessments and Brand Audits are Helping Philippine Cities Fight Plastic Pollution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Year’s worth of sachet use in the Philippines can cover entire Metro Manila 1 foot deep in plastic waste* New quantitative evidence reveals the extent of plastic pollution in the Philippines Manila, Philippines (March 7, 2019) ---Filipinos use...
read moreWhy I Am Joining the Greenpeace Ships
By Froilan Grate Guimaras—that’s the name of the island where I grew up. Located in Central Philippines, it is blessed with powdery white sand beaches, the sweetest mangoes, and some of the warmest people in the planet. I remember spending my childhood in the...
read moreAre Businesses Ready to Beat Plastic Pollution?
Millions of tonnes of plastic waste leaks into the world’s oceans every year. Though these are local, the problem of plastic production, waste generation, and plastic pollution is global. Global plastic production has increased steadily and has reached 320 million...
read moreMeet our Members ZWE – Ecological Recycling Society
Ecological Recycling Society (ECOREC) Interview with Eugenia Skoufi, from ECOREC by Yianna Sigalou Hi Eugenia, can you give us a brief introduction to Ecorec’s focus? The Ecological Recycling Society was founded in 1990, as a response to the narrative at...
read morePlastics and health
We Can’t Burn Away Our Plastic Problem By Claire Arkin, Communications Coordinator When we hear about plastic pollution, it often takes the form of sea turtles with straws up their noses, seals with plastic nets around their necks, and seabirds with...
read more“Zero Waste Cities Forum” gathers LGUs to take on plastic challenge
Officials mull plastic bans and other policies to implement RA 9003, curb plastic pollution Quezon City, 31 January 2019—Hundreds of local government unit (LGU) officials across the country gathered today in a forum in Quezon City to discuss policies that will...
read moreMeet our Members: Surfrider Maroc
Sufrider Maroc: protecting our oceans, beaches and waves The world’s toxic romance with plastic started in the early 20th century, when this synthetic material was first manufactured. As the century progressed, plastics quickly became ubiquitous in our...
read moreNew analysis reveals zero waste certification standards legitimizing harmful environmental practices
New analysis reveals zero waste certification programs legitimizing harmful environmental practices For Immediate Release January 22, 2019, 10AM Pacific Standard Time Contact: Claire Arkin, Campaign and Communications Associate, GAIA claire@no-burn.org, 510-883-9490...
read moreAn Island Crusader Takes On The Big Brands Behind Plastic Waste
Goats and Soda STORIES OF LIFE IN A CHANGING WORLD January 15, 20195:02 AM ET Heard on Morning Edition CHRISTOPHER JOYCE Plastic waste washes in from Manila Bay and the ocean, covering the beach and mangrove trees of Freedom Island, a protected area in the bay....
read moreThe Philippines to the World: We Are Not Your Dumping Ground
Manila, Philippines (January 14, 2019) — Philippine members of Break Free From Plastic (BFFP), a global movement campaigning against plastic pollution, laud the swift and decisive action taken by the Philippines’ Bureau of Customs (BOC) to repatriate the illegal...
read moreThe answer to plastic pollution is to not create waste in the first place
As holiday shopping ramps up, so do the dizzying varieties of plastic packaging tossed in recycling bins. And while we wish a Christmas miracle would transform this old garbage into something new, the reality is the waste left over from the...
read moreMeet Our Members: Earthlife Africa
Earthlife Africa: 30 years of Environmental Justice activism by Makoma Lekalakala and Muna Lakhani 30 years ago, at the height of the state of emergency and oppressive apartheid system in Souht Africa, a small and diverse group of people founded...
read moreThe Chemicals Lurking in Your Carpet
What's a consumer to do when carpets-- even those with the most "environmentally friendly" certifications-- are shown to contain toxic chemicals that could threaten your and your family's health? Toxics and recycling policy expert Miriam Gordon warns of...
read moreTesting Carpet for Toxics: Chemicals Affecting Human Health and Hurting the Circular Economy
For Immediate Release: December 13, 2018 Contacts: Jeff Gearhart, Research Director, Ecology Center, 734-369-9276. Monica Wilson, Associate Director, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, 510-883-9490 x 103. Nusa Urbancic,...
read moreImplementing Zero Waste: Easier over Time
By Sherma E Benosa “I've already got loads of things to do, and you also want me to segregate my waste?” The man, perhaps in his mid-60s, sounded and looked annoyed. We asked him to segregate their waste before giving them to the waste collector next time. “It’s...
read moreMeet our Members ZWE edition – ZW North West
Zero Waste North West Interview with Maeve O'Neil, chair of Zero Waste North West by Yianna Sigalou Hi Maeve, can you give us a brief introduction to Zero Waste North West’s focus? Zero Waste North West formed in March 2013 to oppose plans for a...
read moreGreen groups challenge ADB to innovate, not incinerate
Mandaluyong City, Philippines, 9 November 2018 — Green groups today challenged the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to live up to its stated mandate and stop financing any form of waste incineration. Incineration, including so-called “waste-to-energy” (WTE) incineration,...
read moreYPBB: Indonesia’s Pioneer in Zero Waste
YPBB: Indonesia’s Pioneer in Zero Waste When you talk of Zero Waste communities in Indonesia, three cities come to mind: Bandung, Cimahi, and Soreang. These cities, which used to struggle with managing their waste, have in recent years become leaders in...
read moreInnovate, don’t Incinerate! Environmental Justice Groups Call on Int’l finance Institutions to Support Zero Waste Solutions
Bali, Indonesia, 12 Oct 2018 — Today, over 400 organizations and individuals in more than 50 countries called on international financial institutions (IFIs) meeting this week in Bali, Indonesia, to stop funding waste incinerators, and instead prioritize...
read moreGAIA Members At the Frontlines of the Brand Audit Revolution
When it comes to plastic pollution, all too often consumers are the ones who get the blame. Not anymore. The #breakfreefromplastic movement has taken the same-old beach clean-up—where citizens gather to pick up trash—and added a twist: the brand audit. Now...
read moreOpen letter to multinational development banks: STOP supporting waste incineration!
TO: Mr. Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank Mr. Takehiko Nakao, President, Asian Development Bank Mr. Liqun Jin, President, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Sir Suma Chakrabarti, President, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Mr....
read moreGAIA Response to World Bank Report, “What a Waste 2.0”
For Immediate Release October 2, 2018 Contact: Claire Arkin, Campaign and Communications Associate, GAIA, claire@no-burn.org, 510-883-9490 ext: 111 Experts Urge Drastic Waste Reduction Measures Following Release of World Bank Waste Report FOR...
read moreOUT NOW! Waste Not Asia Quarterly
GAIA Asia Pacific is pleased to share the second issue of its official quarterly, Waste Not Asia, covering the period April to March 2018. The issue features stories from the World Environment Day in June, profiles on Zero Waste heroes, and updates from China,...
read more[PROFILE] Taking on Giants
By Sherma E. Benosa It was like a modern version of the biblical story of David and Goliath, where the young boy David took on the giant Goliath—an uneven battle that saw the underdog eventually emerging victorious. In our version, Froilan Grate, regional coordinator...
read moreOpen Letter to Erik Solheim: UNEP Should Not Support Incineration in Africa
Monday, September 17, 2018 Mr. Erik Solheim United Nations Avenue, Gigiri PO Box 30552, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya cc: United Nations Environment Program Dear Erik Solheim, We were dismayed to see that the United Nations Environment has expressed its support for the...
read morePress Release: C40 Declaration Signals International Shift Away from Waste Incineration and Towards Zero Waste
For Immediate Release September 13, 2018 Contact: Claire Arkin, Campaign and Communications Associate, GAIA, claire@no-burn.org, 973-444-4869 C40 Declaration Signals International Shift Away from Waste Incineration and Towards Zero...
read moreNew York City Environmental Justice Alliance
New York City Environmental Justice Alliance: 26 Years fighting for waste equity For over two decades, the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance (NYC-EJA) has been uniting grassroots organizations in low-income neighborhoods and communities of...
read moreSupport Grows to Control Plastic Waste in International Trade Treaty
Support Grows to Control Plastic Waste in International Trade Treaty Global Partnership for Action on Plastic Waste Also Proposed Geneva, 6 September, 2018. The 11th Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Basel Convention, the world's only...
read moreS.F. invites world to join in zero-waste initiative
San Francisco’s color-coded trash bins — the black, the blue and the green — marked a breakthrough in waste reduction when they hit the curbs nearly two decades ago. Now, the pioneering program that encouraged residents to separate their recyclables and...
read more‘Recyclable’ is a word, not a promise — most plastic goes to landfills
By Monica Wilson It seems like every week, a corporation maligned for its role in the plastic pollution crisis comes out with some new recycling pledge, accompanied by fanfare and applause. Just last month, Starbucks announced that it will be phasing out...
read moreNo Borders: There is no Environmental Justice without Immigrant Justice
Standing with immigrants, migrants, and refugees in the United States is not only standing in alignment with justice, it is also integral to our work as environmental justice advocates.
read moreIncinerators in trouble
As part of a series of projects planned to support and elevate grassroots efforts against trash incinerators in the U.S., GAIA released a factsheet on failing incinerators, featuring five key locations. Commerce Refuse-to-Waste Facility (CREF)...
read moreDumaguete LGU Urged to Enforce Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance, Residents to Segregate Trash
A group of environmentalists urged Dumaguete City officials to strictly enforce the plastic bag regulation ordinance and the residents to segregate their waste during the at-source Waste Assessment and Brand Audit (WABA), 27 July 2018. War On Waste Break Free From...
read moreIndustry needs to step up its game and design plastic out of our systems
By: Pratibha Sharma, India Regional Coordinator, GAIA Asia Pacific Maharashtra’s plastic ban can be seen as a step closer to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge to end the use of single-use plastic by 2022- a timely announcement as India hosted...
read moreBring Your Own Bag, Say No to Plastic Bags
In conjunction of Plastic Bag Free Day on 3rd July, the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) distributed free cloth bags made from discarded t-shirts to market-goers in Bagan Ajam Market in Butterworth, Penang. The event to mark the global day of action was a joint...
read moreRepeal of the incineration ban to worsen waste woes, expert warns
MANILA, Philippines (July 3, 2018) — Filipinos should prepare for the worst impacts of dirty disposal technologies if the government decides to repeal the ban on waste incineration, Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, a former DOST Balik Scientist and expert on waste management...
read moreVICTORY FOR HEALTH OF LA RESIDENTS: DINOSAUR INCINERATOR IN COMMERCE GOES EXTINCT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, June 27, 8:00 am U.S. Pacific Time Commerce, CA, U.S. June 27, 2018--The city of Commerce has announced that the Commerce “Refuse to Energy” Facility will be decommissioned, citing inefficient operating costs as the...
read moreGlobal Leaders Enable Dangerous Waste Burning Practices in G7 Plastics Charter
June 13, 2018 - The G7 Ocean Plastics Charter, signed by five nations, has already been criticized as “tepid,” and inadequate to the scale of the plastic pollution problem. Despite advocates calling for governments to set clear, binding targets...
read moreBig brands shamed for plastic pollution at global summit: Green groups call for accountability, drastic reduction
Vancouver, 6 June 2017—At the Global Sustainable Brands Summit today, evidence from brand audits exposed top global manufacturing companies Pepsi, Unilever, Nestle, and Coke amongst the companies most responsible for plastic pollution in India, the Philippines,...
read moreFind out which companies are responsible for plastic pollution in Asia Pacific
Are you sick and tired of the constant beach clean-ups with no end to plastic pollution in sight? So are we. In time for World Environment Day, hosted in India this year, GAIA members across India, the Philippines and Indonesia are releasing the results from a new...
read moreOn World Environment Day, green groups in Asia call for corporations to clean up their mess
New Delhi, India (June 4, 2018) — On the eve of World Environment Day, environmental organizations from India, the Philippines, and Indonesia called on multinational corporations to take responsibility for the pollution caused by their products, particularly in Asia....
read moreOn World Environment Day, green groups in India tell corporations: Stop causing plastic pollution
New Delhi, India (June 4, 2018) — On the eve of World Environment Day, environmental organizations in India challenged corporations to beat plastic pollution by drastically reducing the production and use of single-use and low-value plastic. The call...
read moreWellington Community Defeats Waste Incinerator in South Africa
Communities of Wellington, in the Western Cape of South Africa, have successfully pushed against the Drakenstein Municipalities plans to build a Municipal Waste Incinerator. The Wellington Association against the Incinerator (WAAI) and the Drakenstein...
read moreNew Data from Five Philippine Cities Reveal Multinational Brands are the Country’s Top Plastic Polluters
Quezon City, Philippines (June 1, 2018) — New data from waste and brand audits conducted in five Philippine cities confirm results of earlier coastal clean-up audits that multinational brands are the country’s top sources of plastic pollution. Environmental groups...
read morePetition for threatened social and environmental activist Jorge Tadeo Vargas and his family
Jorge Tadeo Vargas Juvera, residing in the State of Mexico, has been providing accompaniment and technical and informative advice to communities in the states of Mexico and Hidalgo about the socio-environmental impacts of the incineration of waste in cement kiln, as...
read morePutting the Social Justice into Zero Waste: Highlights from the Design, Justice and Zero Waste Conference
On May 8th and 9th, social justice activists, zero waste practitioners, academics, design nerds, architects and business leaders gathered at the New School in New York to learn about each others' work and find ways to join forces to build a zero waste...
read moreAs a lead-up to World Environment Day on June 5, environmental justice groups are launching today an unprecedented coordinated waste and brand audits in key cities in India.
read moreGAIA Rejects Dangerous Reform of Buenos Aires Zero Waste Law
The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives and all its members around the world express our disappointment and concern for this process and its results. By removing the clause that prevented incineration, this is no longer a Zero Waste Law, since the Zero Waste concept excludes incineration technology and its variants.
read moreZero Waste Cities: Tackling the Global Waste Problem
By Kripa Ramachandran In 2015, a report titled ‘Stemming the Tide’ commissioned by Ocean Conservancy, an environmental advocacy group based in the United States, claimed that five Asian countries—China, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand—together account for...
read more#Youth For Zero Waste
By Paula de Castro The youth are a crucial force in Zero Waste implementation in the Asia Pacific region. And to highlight just how important their roles are, three youth-centered initiatives were given the spotlight during the recent International Zero Waste Cities...
read moreImplementing Zero Waste: Challenging But Doable
By Sherma E. Benosa As the world scrambles to solve the plastic waste crisis, two Asian cities stand tall for having made huge strides not only in waste management but also in waste reduction. Trivandrum City in Kerala, India, and the City of San Fernando in Pampanga,...
read moreDumaguete Youth to Lawmakers: Ban Plastic Bags Now
By Sherma E. Benosa Hundreds of Dumaguete youth added their voice to the ongoing youth-initiated petition urging the countries’ lawmakers to pass a national ban on single-use plastics. The call came during the 5th Zero Waste Youth Convergence held early this year at...
read moreGreen groups question Palawan, DOE “waste-to-energy” deal; Warn LGUs on possible “waste-to-energy” scams
Quezon City, 18 April 2018 — NGO coalition No Burn Pilipinas today questioned the legality of the newly signed “waste-to-energy” (WTE) facility deal in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, as they warned cities and municipalities not to be duped by possible WTE scams. The group,...
read moreCorporations Told: Own Up to Global Plastic Crisis
BANDUNG, Indonesia (March 8, 2018) — Companies producing and earning from their problematic products should take on the responsibility for the global plastic pollution. “It's unfair for companies, who earn billions of dollars annually, to pass the burden and...
read moreTragedy at Mozambique dumpsite illustrates hazards that informal recyclers face everyday
The Hulene landfill is the largest and oldest open-air rubbish dump in Mozambique having been in existence for more than 40 years. It is located 7 km away from the city centre of Maputo and covers an area of 17ha in a heavily populated area. On the 19th of February...
read moreFacts about “Waste-to-Energy” Incinerators
Incinerators are facilities that treat waste by burning it. They come under many names such as “mass burn incinerators,” “thermal treatment facilities,” or so-called “waste-to-energy” (WTE) plants, and involve processes such as combustion, pyrolysis, gasification, or...
read moreRecycling is Not Enough
Industry is planning to quadruple the amount of plastic on the planet by 2050. Even with the best possible global recycling rate, the amount of plastic polluting the environment would still DOUBLE. Recycling is not enough, we need less plastic.
read moreDumaguete Youth Converge for Zero Waste
Over 1,000 Dumaguete youth are expected to gather at Foundation University in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental today to learn from and share ideas and experiences with youth leaders from Zero Waste model communities across the country during the 5th Zero Waste Youth...
read moreWays to Zero Waste Photo Contest
Are you into Zero Waste? GAIA invites nationals residing in Asia Pacific countries to share how they practice Zero Waste by joining our #WaysToZeroWaste social media photo contest! Simply take pictures of the ways you practice Zero Waste and post them on your social...
read moreCarpets and Cancer: In Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month
It’s Time for Carpet Manufacturers to Disclose their Toxic Secrets: In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month Miriam Gordon, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) October was named Breast Action Awareness month for a reason. One in eight women born in...
read moreTrick or Treat: Nightmare of Plastic Pollution Haunts Top Corporate Polluters
Top corporate plastic polluters told: "Own up, pay up, clean up your act!" MANILA, Philippines (October 30, 2017) – Green groups belonging to the #breakfreefromplastic movement today went trick-or-treating at the headquarters of top corporations responsible for...
read moreCongressional briefing on Zero Waste Development & Expansion Act of 2017
In a major step for zero waste efforts nationally, Congressman Keith Ellison has introduced the Zero Waste Development & Expansion Act of 2017 (HR 1034). Watch the November 8, 2017 Zero Waste Act Congressional Briefing here! This act would award grants for municipal...
read moreMythbusting video on “waste-to-energy”
Have you ever heard someone say that “waste-to-energy” can solve our garbage and energy problems? This video reveals the dirty truth.
read moreCivil Society Coalition Slams Moves to Repeal Incineration Ban and Promote WtE
17 October 2017, Quezon City. The government must scrap moves to repeal the waste incineration ban and stop promoting so-called "waste-to-energy" (WtE) incineration facilities. This was the call made by more than 50 civil society groups in a press conference today...
read moreSay NO to Dow’s Dirty Energy Bag!
DOW Chemical and Keep America Beautiful’s latest greenwashing scheme, the Hefty Energy Bag program, wants to dupe us into thinking that burning plastic in cement kilns is recycling. In reality this is a toxic disposal method.
read moreNGOs Working with Cities in Asia Pledge to Work on Zero Waste, Prevent Nearly 1M Tons of Waste from Entering the Environment
Malta, (5 October 2017) – At this year’s Our Ocean Conference, an annual gathering held since 2014 to press world leaders to address marine plastic pollution, non-government organizations working with 16 cities across Asia pledged to prevent hundreds of tons of waste...
read moreIncineration Not a Solution, Green Groups Warn Western Brands Found Polluting the Philippines
Green groups involved in an eight-day cleanup and waste and brand audit in the Philippines warned the top offending brands—mostly multinationals—against pushing incineration as a solution. The warning came after one of the top offenders revealed that they...
read moreGreen Groups Reveal Top Plastic Polluters Following Massive Beach Cleanup on Freedom Island
MANILA, Philippines (September 22, 2017) - International brands are among the worst oceans polluters—and green groups under the global #breakfreefromplastic movement are holding them to account. The results from the groups’ eight-day beach cleanup, waste and brand...
read moreCalifornia passes strong new carpet stewardship policy!
Read the full Press Release We applaud the signing of California’s AB 1158 into law as a significant step for the state and a new global standard in producer responsibility. California’s AB 1158 repairs the state’s Carpet Stewardship Program. As cities and states...
read more#breakfreefromplastic Movement Launches Coastal Cleanup Activities Worldwide, Pushes for Corporate Accountability
Manila, Philippines (September 13, 2017) — Various organizations under the #breakfreefromplastic global movement are launching a series of coastal cleanup activities in Asia, Europe, and North America. Philippines-based member organizations under the...
read moreGreen businesses and cities at risk: How your waste management plan may be leading you in the wrong direction
Business and cities should be aware that burning waste in any form and by any name is a false path to zero waste, and undermines true sustainability goals.
read moreFrom Bali to Manila Bay to Malta: How we Turn the Tide on Plastic Pollution
By Jed Alegado Waste-to-energy. Zero waste. Incinerators. Words that I have encountered in my almost a month of working for the #breakfreefromplastic (BFFP) movement. These are also concepts which the communications team have been trying to explain to the public...
read moreNo al incinerador en México! No incinerator in Mexico!
Los abajo firmantes se oponen a la construcción del incinerador Veolia propuesto para la Ciudad de México, que dañará el medio ambiente y la salud de la comunidad, desplazará a los recicladores y desincentivará las políticas de cero residuos en la región. Instamos a...
read moreGAIA News Roundup July 2017
Check out the latest stories from the GAIA network
read morePRESS RELEASE: U.S. Mayors Stand Up to Incinerator Industry in Landmark Renewable Energy Resolution
In blow to the polluting incinerator industry, 250 mayors unanimously vote for renewable energy plan that does not include municipal waste burning. The industry is losing political capital both at home and abroad.
read moreZero Waste Academy Produces First Batch of Graduates
By Sherma E. Benosa Two weeks after its launch, the Zero Waste Academy, a project of the Mother Earth Foundation (MEF) and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), has produced its first batch of graduates. The participants, composed of NGO and...
read moreStudy Tour of Indian Organics Management Models: Learning from Best Practices
By Sherma E. Benosa Like in other countries in Asia, municipal solid waste (MSW) is a big challenge in India. But many Indian cities and communities have taken great strides in developing ecological and sustainable solutions to manage MSW, especially organic waste....
read moreMonday, June 19: Members of Global Movement #breakfreefromplastic Confront American Chemistry Council
Members of #breakfreefromplastic stand up to the American Chemistry Council at their Marine Debris Conference in Newport, RI, demanding an end to plastic pollution and incineration and a dramatic decrease in plastic production.
read moreCommunity victory against incineration in Mexico
After a meeting of the Tizayuca Communities and the Hidalgo State Government, the Tizayuca incinerator project was temporarily cancelled in order to better address community concerns, including lack of transparency throughout the process.
read moreLa tragedia del vertedero de Etiopía: sólo la punta del iceberg
(Este artículo es de autoría de Mariel Vilella, Directora de Gestión de Basura Cero Europa/GAIA, y fue publicado originalmente en inglés en el Huffiington Post.) Terminar la vida enterrado bajo toneladas de basura en un vertedero es sólo uno de los riesgos mortales...
read moreCommunity action defeats waste burning in cement kilns
BREAKING: Small community stands up to world’s largest cement company, wins Goldman Environmental Prize
read moreBroad Opposition to state money for burning waste
Letters from frontline communities, Goldman Prize winners, and more opposing subsidies for incineration in California.
read moreGAIA Statement on Sri Lanka Garbage Landslide
No one deserves to die like this Let us push harder for zero waste solutions to the world’s garbage woes that do not involve using communities as dumping grounds.
read moreThe CAREless carpet industry: A critique of the California Carpet Stewardship Program’s Reliance on Incineration
The planet is literally carpeted with carpet waste and it’s mostly (99%) plastic. Less than 5% of U.S. carpet waste is recycled while 89% is landfilled and about 6% is treated in some form of incinerator. In California, carpet is one of the top ten biggest products in landfills.
read moreSwept under the carpet: exposing the greenwash of the U.S. carpet industry
Recycling down, toxic incineration up? The carpet industry is hiding a dirty secret, and it’s time for them to change.
read moreTragedy in Ethiopia: zero waste could have saved recyclers´ lives
Since identifying the problem of waste in the city, valuable years were lost during which zero waste systems could have been implemented, as well as programs that would have dignified and improved safety for recyclers.
read moreToward a Zero-Waste World
By Sherma E. Benosa Against the backdrop of excessive garbage being produced daily, vendors aggressively market “waste-to-energy” incineration technologies (WtEs) as the answer that will not only solve this mounting waste problem but also produce energy. This pitch of...
read moreWaste Gasification & Pyrolysis: High Risk, Low Yield Processes for Waste Management
Over $2 billion was invested in the projects listed in this report alone, all of which closed or were canceled before commencing operations.
read moreEcoGroups Warn Against Plastic Waste Burning
Environmental groups in the Philippines warn against plastic pollution investment strategies proposed as “solutions” to marine plastic pollution in recent reports by US-based institutions.
read more