Open 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. Werner Hoyer, President, European Investment Bank
Mr. Luis Alberto Moreno, President, Inter-American Development Bank
Mr. James P. Scriven, Chief Executive Officer, Inter-American Investment Corporation
Dr. Bandar M. H. Hajjar, President, Islamic Development Bank
Mr. K. V. Kamath, President, New Development Bank
Mr. Jim Yong Kim, President, World Bank
We, the undersigned organizations from national, regional and international NGOs, grassroots and community groups, and individuals from 54 countries, are alarmed by the support of multilateral development banks (MDBs), for waste incinerators, including so-called “waste-to-energy” (WTE) incinerators.
We maintain that waste incinerators, in any form, are part of a failed system that is putting the planet and societies in the wrong path. These facilities:
Threaten people and the environment
Incineration endangers people’s health and well-being, destroys livelihoods and harms the environment. Incinerators generate toxic ash and sludge and emit toxic chemicals such as dioxins, furans and mercury.
Contribute to climate change
Incinerators emit significant quantities of greenhouse gases. Burning waste is not renewable energy and takes investments away from renewable energy solutions; waste is from non-renewable resources, and plastics are from fossil fuels.
Damage local and national economies
Incineration is the most expensive way to manage waste and produce electricity, and it prevents the implementation of Zero Waste solutions that create jobs and invigorate local economies.
Obstruct resource sustainability
Incineration perpetuates the unsustainable “take, make, waste” linear economic model that abets wasting and the continuous extraction of natural resources.
We believe that:
– support of waste incinerators runs counter to the stated mission of development banks,
– waste incinerators are not “sustainable, accessible, resilient”, nor “quality infrastructure” that should be considered for developing countries, and
– waste burning detracts from the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris climate goals.
We further assert that public money should not be used to fund nor promote these facilities in the Global South.
Communities and local governments in the Global South are struggling to improve the management of their natural resources, address growing pollution and waste in cities, and cope with climate change impacts.
Many cities and communities have proven that a transition into Zero Waste systems is a viable solution, providing a key opportunity for them to decouple economic growth from excessive resource extraction, consumption and wastage. Their efforts, however, are under threat from lack of financing and investments wasted on building and maintaining destructive infrastructure, such as trash incinerators.
We strongly believe that Zero Waste is the direction that MDBs should be advancing in order to protect the environment and public health, help communities and cities build robust local economies, generate productive jobs and livelihoods, and help mitigate climate change.
We call on the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Inter-American Investment Corporation, Islamic Development Bank, New Development Bank and World Bank, together with the UN and governments of wealthy countries, to:
Halt the aggressive promotion of, and phase out all financing for waste incineration, including so-called “waste-to-energy” incineration in borrowing countries; and stop promoting waste incineration as “renewable energy.”
Prioritize waste and resource management approaches at the top of the waste hierarchy, which address the waste problem at root—primarily through reduction, reuse and redesign; refrain from endorsing waste incineration projects; and stop advocating waste incineration in all publications and statements.
Support borrowing countries in pursuing and funding sustainable, just and equitable Zero Waste solutions that effectively addresses their unique contexts and needs, supports local economies and livelihoods, and respects and integrates the informal waste sector.
Signed,
Countries
Albania | France | Nepal | Slovenia |
Argentina | Germany | Netherlands | South Africa |
Australia | Ghana | Nigeria | Spain |
Bangladesh | Guatemala | Panamá | Sweden |
Belgium | Hungary | Philippines | Tanzania |
Brazil | India | Poland | Tunisia |
Bolivia | Indonesia | Portugal | United Kingdom |
Bulgaria | Italy | Puerto Rico | United States |
Canada | Kenya | South Korea | Uruguay |
Chile | Lithuania | Romania | Venezuela |
Colombia | Malaysia | Russian Federation | Vietnam |
Costa Rica | Mauritius | Rwanda | Zambia |
Croatia | Mexico | Serbia | |
Czech Republic | Morocco | Slovakia |
Organizations and Networks
5RZeroSprechi | Hogar |
A cambio de nada (Asociación medioambiental para el desarrollo humano) | Humusz Szövetség |
AgroNativo | IIT Madras |
Ahora Arganda | INECC |
Aldamar Ediciones | Institute for Circular Economy |
All India Kabadi Mazdoor Mahasangh (AIKMM) | Institute for Local Self-Reliance |
Alliance for Zero Waste Indonesia (AZWI) | Institute for Policy Studies Climate Justice Program |
American Environmental Health Studies Project, Inc (AEHSP) | IRTECO |
Amigos de la Tierra | Isde italia |
Amigos en acción Hmo | Jal Biradari |
Asilia Convivium | Jivit Mati Kisan Samiti |
Asociación Cultural de Intercambios | Kentucky Environmental Foundation |
Asociacion Nacional de Recicladores de Colombia | Kickapoo Peace Circle |
Asociación para la Promoción y el Desarrollo de la Comunidad “CEIBA” | Korea Zero Waste Movement Network |
Associação de Combate aos Poluentes (ACPO) | La Maison de la Zéro Déchet |
Association de l’Education Environnementale pour les Futures Générations | La Mía |
Atotonilli y Asesores Ecologistas SLP | Lernu circo social |
BaliFokus/Nexus3 Foundation | Libera Radio |
Bandera azul ecológica comunitaria | Libertas, AC |
Bierzo Airelimpio | LIDECS |
Biofuelwatch | Live Debris |
BIOS Argentina | Local Futures |
Bond Beter Leefmilieu | Mexicali Resiste |
Both ENDS | Miami Worker’s Center |
Break Free From Plastic | Mother Earth Foundation |
Cambiemos Parla | Moviment Contra la Incineració a Uniland |
CEDD – Centrul de Excelenta pentru Dezvoltare Durabila | Movimento 5 Stelle |
Center for Consultancy on Sustainable Development (Da Nang) | Municipality of Tirana |
Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) | Nagrik Chetna Manch |
Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (CREST) | National Toxics Network Australia |
Centre For Earth Works (CFEW) | Naturskyddsföreningen |
Centre for Environment Justice and Development | Nipe Fagio |
Centre for Zero Waste & Development | NO CARBONNEXT |
Centro de Análisis y Defensa de Derechos | Objectif Zéro Déchet |
CEPTA | ODESC- Organização de Desenvolvimento Sustentável e Comunitário |
Circular Economy Institute | ONG no Alineadas del Estado de Sonora |
Circular Economy Wales CIC | ONG Susténtate |
Citizen consumer and civic Action Group | Pacific Environment |
Citizens Against Pollution | Partido EQUO |
Ciudadanos por el cambio democrático | Partnership for Policy Integrity |
Cnte sonora | Philippine Women’s University Environmental Science Program |
Colectivo Viento Sur | Piacenza per Aria |
Colectivo Voces Ecológicas COVEC | PLAN: The Post-Landfill Action Network |
Collettivo Exit | Plataforma Aire Limpio Residuo Cero Madrid |
Color tierra | Plataforma antiincineracion |
Comitato Basta Nocivita’ in Val D’Arda, Lugagnano Val d’Arda (PC) | Plataforma Córdoba Aire Limpio |
Comitato cittadino Basta nocività in Val d’Arda | Plataforma en contra ka incineracion de residuos es los alcores |
Comitato no inceneritore Matera | Polish Zero Waste Accodiation |
Comitato popolare “lasciateci respirare” | Política y Rock & Roll Radio |
Comite de Solidaridad Internacionalista Zaragoza | Por un pais limpio |
Consumers’ Association of Penang | PPLH Bali |
Coordinadora Andaluza de Plataformas y grupos contra la incineración de residuos y por un aire limpio | Pragya Seeds Nepal |
Coordinadora de Pueblos y Organizaciones del Oriente del Estado de México en Defensa de la Tierra, el Agua y su Cultura | Reciclador de Base. |
Coordinadora Ecoloxista d’Asturies | Red de Acción por los Derechos Ambientales |
Darbar Sahitya Sansad | Red de Accion por los Derechos Ambientales RADA |
Development Indian Ocean Network (DION) | Red Societal Agencia de conocimiento |
DLR Prerna | Redbiolac |
Don’t Waste Arizona | REMPA |
Eco Sitio | Returning Organics To Soil |
Ecobali | Sahabat Alam (Friends’ of the Earth) Malaysia |
Eco-Cycle International | Salam institute |
Ecologistas En Acción – Lora Del Rio | Salute e Ambiente – Comitato No Inceneritore a Matera NIM |
Ecologistas en Acción Córdoba | SGAB CONSEIL |
Ecology Center | Sierra Club |
Ecos de la sociedad | Socialist Party(India)-Telangana |
Ecoteca NGO | Sociedad Ecologista Alwadi-ira / Ecologistas en Acción |
ECOTON | societa’ civile |
Ecowaste Coalition of the Philippines | Society for Earth |
Ekologi brez meja | South Durban Community Environmental Alliance |
Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) | Sredina-Association of Citizens |
Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria | Stree mukti Sanghatana |
Equo | STRM |
EQUO Cantabria | Surabaya zero waste community |
Europe and We | Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Youth |
European Environmental Bureau | Taller de Comunicación Ambiental (Rosario) |
Familiamigos union de cooperativas | Taller Ecologista |
Fluoride Action Network | Tax Justice Network Africa |
FMVz | Terra Advocati |
FOF | Texas Campaign for the Environment |
Forum Peduli Laut | Thanal |
France Nature Environnement | The 5 Gyres Institute |
Frente Auténtico del Trabajo | The Doubting Thomases |
Frente de Comunidades en Contra de la Incineracion | This Is Rubbish |
Fronteras Comunes | Toledo Aire Limpio |
FUNAM, Environment Defense Foundation | ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA)/Ban Asbestos Network of India (BANI) |
Fundació ENT | UCR |
Fundacion Aguaclara | UNAM |
Fundación Ambiental Bios Colombia | Unison |
Fundación Basura | United Kingdom Without Incineration Network (UKWIN) |
Fundación el Árbol | United Workers |
GAIA Africa | Universidad de Costa Rica |
GAIA Asia Pacific | Universidad de Sonora |
GAIA US | Volgograd-Ecopress Information Center |
Gerakan Indonesia Diet Kantong Plastik | WALHI Jawa Barat |
GGJ | WALHI/FoE Indonesia |
Greater New York Labor Religion Coalition | Wellington Association Against the Incinerator (WAAI) |
Green Africa Youth Organization | West Valley Neighborhoods Coalition |
Green Indonesia Foundation | YPBB Bandung |
Green Knowledge Foundation | Zero Plastic Lembongan |
Greeners Action | Zero Waste BC |
Greenpeace Argentina | Zero Waste Europe |
groundWork | Zero Waste France |
Grupo Ecológico de Occidente | Zero Waste Himalaya |
Grupo ecologista Alwadi-ira | Zero Waste International Trust |
Hacia basura cero | Zero Waste Italy |
Hazards Centre | Zero Zbel |
Healis Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health | ZeroWaste4ZeroBurning.ca |
Health and Environment Justice Support International | Žiedinė ekonomika |
Health Care Without Harm Asia | |
HermosiArte | |
Hnutí DUHA – Friends of the Earth Czech Republic |
Individual signers (including Zero Waste and anti-incineration experts, grassroots and community leaders, organizers, advocates and campaigners)
Alan Podber | Gabriela Molina | Martín Amaro |
Alejandro Contreras | Gerardo Valenzuela | Martin Alejandro Leon Quintana |
Aleksandra Martinovic | Glen Williams | Mauro Fernandez |
Alessandro Zagaria | Gloria Stephanie Martínez Dueñas | Melissa Navarro Espinoza |
Alicia Zárate | Grecia Hernandez | Mercedes Aragon Garcia |
Alicia De Blas García | Guillermo Marcos Rivero | Merlin Hay |
Alma Vasquez | Hannah Pepper-Cunningham | Miguel Gonzalez |
Alma Vargas | Hanz Hurton | Miguel Alberto Martínez Escalante |
Almitra Patel | Héctor Pėrez Garcìa | Miguel Angel Medina Placencia |
Amado Colado | Hector Roman | Mireya Scarone |
Amado Alberto Rubio Uriarte | Hermes Iván Díaz Ceniceros | Monica Chan |
America Montoya | Hugo Ramírez | Mukundwa Ntakiruta Denis |
Ana Freire | Humberto Angel | Nadine K |
Ana Rosa Cabrera Villalobos | Huub Scheele | Natalia Serna-Geitz |
Angela Daniela Rodriguez vargas | Ian Baird | Neil Seldman |
Antonia Bruno | Ian Armstrong | Noelia Sarabia |
Antonio País Rodríguez | Irazema Gil Garcia | Nora Villavicencio Reséndiz |
Ari Lo | Irlanda Medina | Nora Tudela Amat |
Aticus Méndez Díaz | Israel Martinez | Nubia Matrecitos |
Avelino Piña Moreno | Iván García | Nydia guillermina Monte vega |
Belén Ovalle | James Tyree II | Octaevius Altair |
Berenice J. | Jane Owens | Oscar Galindo Dórame |
Betsy Margot Ojeda Fuentes | Jeffrey Hurwitz | Pablo Angel Lugo Colin |
Blanca Méndez | Jeniffer Yañez Rodríguez | Pablo Federico Arévalo Salcedo |
C Day | Joaquin Zanón Moliner | Patricia López |
Carlos Alejandro Fuentes coss | Jorge Arzave | Paul Palla |
Carlos Ricardo Zuñiga | Jorge Zambrano González | Paul Moss |
Carola Brambilla | Jose Marquez | Pauline Debrabandere |
Catia Pratesi | José Antonio Villalpando Gutiérrez | Pay Vidal Vargas Juvera |
Celia Alldridge | José Luis Fernández Solís | Pedro Pablo De leon Torres |
César Yáñez | Jose Manuel Santiago | Pery Seco Peddro |
Christopher Lish | Juan Boizon | Peter Curia |
Clare Hoesl | Juan Carlos De la Cruz del Valle | Peter Gilmore |
Clemente Mediano Sánchez | Judith Detert-Moriarty | Rebeca pech Alonso |
Concepción Hernández Sánchez | Julie Sauvêtre | Refugio Velázquez Gomez |
Connan Anne | Keith Roman | Remigia Garcia |
Cristina Farnesi | Kenneth Ruby | René Villa Fajardo |
Cruz Manuel Romo Noriega | Lean Deleon | Ricardo Arcones |
Daniel Enrique Maldonado Sánchez | Lidia Caballero | Ricardo Carrera Aragon |
David Sánchez | Liliana Orozco Camacho | Ricardo Carrera Ramos |
David Salas | Liliana Doaamantes Monteverde | Roberto Ibarra |
David Kreindler | Lizbeth Velazquez | Rossano Ercolini |
David Ernesto Barajas Mariscal | Lola Aquino Trigo | Ruth Ramos Rios |
Dawn Albanese | Lucas Reibak | S. Alvarado |
Deanne Liu | Luis Montes de Oca | Sandra Noble |
Diaba Carolina Mendívil Gutiérrez | Luis Maximiliano Carrasco | Sara Goldberg |
Dianna McGhee | Mal Williams | Sara Carmen Gaspar |
Don Menowe | Manuel Rojo | Silvia Rodriguez-Cervantes |
Edgar Miranda | Manuel Sánchez | Socorro García |
Edgar Gil Garza | Marco Dadà | Sonia Ruiz |
Ellen Barfield | Marco Vinicio Burgoin Martínez | Stephanie Miklavcic |
eneko aierbe | María Guadalupe Cabrera Castro | Stuart Williams |
Enrique Pizarro | Maria Hontanares Arranz Peña | Teresa Jaeger |
Enver Domingo | Maria Luisa Olivera | Thibault Turchet |
Enzo Favoino | Maria rosario Sanz martin | Uma K |
Ernesto Valenzuela | Mariam Coronado | Usual perez Garcia |
Evangeline Palacio | Marie Askins | Valentin Carrera |
Evelin Velazquez | Mariló Tudela | Valentín Villarroel Ortega |
Expedito Filho | Marina Carrera Aragon | Verónica Espinoza |
Fabrizio Gloria | Marine Foulon | Victor Emmanuel Navarro Sanchez |
Flora Esthela Gallegos Robles | Marta Odriozola | Vivek Koshy |
Francesco Caputo | Marta Terán García | Vladimir Iván Moskat |
Francisca Jashimoto | Martin Gamez | Yobel Novian Putra |
Francisco Rafael Trujano Fermoso |