GAIA Plastics Treaty Policy Update

INC-4 Day 2, April 24, 2024

Contact Groups continued to second day

Member States and Observers were in contact groups to continue to hammer out agreement on text. Contact group 1 is focused on parts I and II of the revised Zero Draft (the basis for treaty text), which cover the scope and objectives of the instrument,  particularly how to address the life cycle of plastics. This is where the debate over plastic reduction (or what is being referred to as reduction of PPP– primary plastic polymers) is taking place. 

Contact group 2 focuses on parts III and IV of the revised Zero Draft, which center around implementation. This is where discussions around financial mechanisms for the treaty are taking shape. 

New study shows: more plastic production = more plastic pollution

(Courtesy of #BreakFreeFromPlastic)

A research paper published in Science Advances on April 24 confirms plastic production is directly linked to plastic pollution– such that every 1% increase in consumer goods companies’ plastic production is associated with a 1% increase in plastic pollution in the environment.  The paper is the result of a five-year analysis conducted by scientists from a dozen different universities in the United States of America, Australia, the Philippines, New Zealand, Estonia, Chile, Sweden, Canada, and the United Kingdom. 

The researchers used #BreakFreeFromPlastic (BFFP) brand audit data from 1,576 audit events across 84 countries gathered between 2018 – 2022. The data revealed that 56 global companies are responsible for more than half of all branded plastic pollution, with a quarter of the branded waste attributed to just five companies: The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Danone, and Altria/Philip Morris International. As world leaders negotiate a Global Plastics Treaty at INC-4, this research serves as a tool to support a high-ambition legally binding treaty that includes provisions on corporate accountability, prioritizing plastic production reduction measures, and promoting reuse and refill systems.

Fossil Fuel Lobbyists Outnumber National Delegations, Scientists, and Indigenous Peoples at Plastics Treaty Negotiations

Courtesy of Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) 

An analysis by CIEL in collaboration with GAIA and others finds: 

  • 196 lobbyists for the fossil fuel and chemical industry registered for the plastics treaty talks, a 37% increase from the 143 lobbyists registered at INC-3.
  • Fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists outnumber the combined 180 representatives of the European Union delegations.
  • The total number of fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists registered is three times greater than the 58 independent scientists from the Scientists’ Coalition for An Effective Plastic Treaty and seven times greater than the 28 representatives of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus. 
  • 16 lobbyists for the fossil fuel and chemical industry registered across nine different country delegations, including four in Malaysia, three in Thailand, two in Iran and the Dominican Republic, and one each in China, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Turkey, and Uganda. 
  • The fossil fuel and chemical industry registered more representatives than the smallest 87 country delegations combined. 
  • The Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) collectively registered 73 representatives, meaning they are outnumbered more than two to one compared to the fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists.

Civil society soundbyte

Spokespeople from Aamjiwnaang First Nations, the Society of First Nations, and Keepers of the Water held a press conference at the Shaw Center to speak out against the systemic violence and environmental genocide that they’ve suffered at the hands of the Canadian government, focusing particularly on the use of ancestral lands for oil and gas extraction to make plastic. They also expressed their frustration at the limited access they’ve had to the treaty negotiations. 

Excerpt from Ecojustice press release: 

Last week Aamjiwnaang First Nation Chief and Council issued an alert to the community warning of high levels of benzene, a chemical used in the production of plastics that is known to cause cancer and increase respiratory illnesses. Concerningly, industry and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks failed to inform the community about the elevated pollution levels through the public warning system. 

Janelle Nahmabin, Elected Councillor, Aamjiwnaang First Nation said: “I’m willing to put my life on the line for the next generations. That’s how much I love my people and my land. What about you?” 

Contact:

Claire Arkin, Global Communications Lead

claire@no-burn.org | +1 973 444 4869

References: 

For more information about GAIA’s treaty advocacy, please visit  no-burn.org/unea-plastics-treaty, follow us on X @gaianoburn, and read our Press kit.

Ahead of the ADB’s Annual Meeting next month, civil society groups are firmly calling on the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to go back to the drawing board and overhaul the draft Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) as written in its current form. To demonstrate their grave concerns that the policy provisions will undermine project-affected people and their allies abilities to hold ADB to account when social and environmental harms and damages occur, they intend to deliver a statement to the ADB Headquarters in Manila this morning.

The draft ESF, aimed at updating ADB’s safeguards policies, is being met with opposition from civil society groups due to a wide range of critical shortcomings, including:

  • Lack of Clear Lines of Accountability 
  • Lack of Clarity Related to the Stakeholder Engagement 
  • Lack of Human Rights Approach 
  • Weakened Environmental and Social Protections 
  • Gender Consideration Dilution 
  • Climate Change standards that fail to stand up to climate science 
  • Opaque Financial Intermediary Lending 

In light of these grave concerns, the NGO Forum on ADB and the Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) together with the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), 350.org, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Freedom from Debt Coalition, Sanlakas, Oriang, K4K-QC, Zone One Tondo Organization (ZOTO), Center for Energy, Ecology and Development (CEED), Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC-KSK), EcoWaste Coalition, Coalition for Human Rights in Development (CHRD), Recourse and International Accountability Project (IAP)  urge the ADB to overhaul the draft ESF, revising the language to instead reflect a set of forward-looking safeguards applicable to its entire portfolio, grounded in international human rights and environmental standards.

Quotes from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)

  1. ⁠”The ADB’s safeguards should be the backbone of the bank’s commitment to people and the ecosystem’s well-being. Prioritizing community consultation and consent in all energy projects is paramount, ensuring that local communities are empowered in decision-making, safeguarding their rights and livelihoods. For us, the well-being of people and planet are non-negotiable.” 

– Chuck Baclagon, Finance Campaigner 350.org Asia

  1. The ADB continues to subject people and planet to further harm. The latest draft of ADB’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) further dilutes already weak safeguards provisions for affected communities. Even worse, the Bank continues to  ignore opposition by communities and persists in pushing climate-exacerbating  programs and policies and debt-creating finance in many Asian countries.

The ADB should walk the talk of eradicating poverty. Heed peoples’ demand for debt cancellation, reparations for past and continuing harms, an end to financing of planet-warming fossil fuels, and a  rapid, equitable, and just energy transition.

  • Lidy Nacpil, Coordinator, Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) 
  1. As a bank with a legacy of dirty energy and harm, the least that ADB could do in the face of worsening climate crisis and environmental degradation is to produce and implement a most stringent ESF. Instead, the draft allows financing of projects whose risks are not yet fully assessed, problematically allows offsets, and neglects the need to fully stop new financing for coal or gas with no exceptions. Glaring loopholes essentially render the ESF useless in truly responding to climate and environmental imperatives. We are one in calling on ADB to thoroughly improve the ESF draft, and ensure that finance is instead channeled to genuine solutions such as distributed renewables.
  • Avril De Torres, Deputy Executive Director, Center for Energy, Ecology and Development (CEED)
  1. “The EcoWaste Coalition is troubled by the provision of the ESF that allows borrowers or clients to propose less stringent measures. This opens a door to potential abuses, where economic or political pressures could dilute the rigor of environmental and social protections.

If ADB is genuine in their stance to promote sustainable and responsible development, they should put stronger oversight, clearer criteria for exceptions, and more robust accountability in the ESF to uphold rigorous environmental and social standards.”

-Glory Rose Manatad, Legal and Policy Officer

Ecowaste Coalition

  1. ⁠“The failure of the ADB to accept any semblance of accountability for its past role in pushing policies that dismantled mechanisms and structures that protected people from corporate abuse or anti-people projects has again reared its ugly head. 

The weakening and dilution of existing safeguards is proof that ADB has not learned any lesson and remains more concerned with ensuring the profitability of the private sector rather than protecting the welfare of people or the future of the planet.”

-Rovik Obanil, Secretary General, Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC)

  1. ADB has to recognize that we are already feeling the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. It has to stop giving corporations continued license to pollute and to burn our planet through hideous carbon and pollution offsets. The false solutions they promote trapping us into dirty debts and are severely impacting the environment and communities – most especially the poor and marginalized. It’s time for the Bank to wake up to the facts and finally align with international socio-environmental and human rights instruments!

-Brex Arevalo, GAIA AP Climate and Anti-Incineration Campaigner 

  1. “The ADB has an opportunity to ensure that governments uphold the right to self-determination of indigenous peoples. It should mandate the securing of the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of indigenous peoples within their ancestral domains. More importantly, the ADB must begin to subscribe to the framework of the “Right to Say No” of indigenous peoples and move beyond “meaningful consultation,” which the FPIC process has sadly become. The reverse of the Right to Say No is the community’s Right to Say Yes to their own model of development.” 

-Maya Quirino, Advocacy Coordinator, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC-KsK/FoE Phils.)

  1. The ESF W Paper, after two years of consultations, regrettably fails to integrate any of the comments provided by civil society, which have consistently demanded stringent requirements for ADB borrowers to adhere to environmental and social compliance principles, committed to “Do No Harm.” The mitigating hierarchy approach promoted by the ADB in this draft ESF poses a direct threat to communities and the environment globally. It undermines all prerequisites for environmental and social risk assessment and compliance prior to loan approval, granting borrowers absolute freedom to disregard environmental and social risks. This constitutes a dismantling of the fundamental notion of safeguards.

We strongly condemn the ADB’s current ESF draft at its 57th annual meeting and demand a complete overhaul to ensure mandatory risk assessment requirements before loan approval, with language compliant with independent investigations for all ADB borrowers. Anything less than this poses a direct threat to communities and the environment.

-Rayyan Hassan, Executive Director, NGO Forum on ADB

  1. “As it stands, the ESF allows for the continuation of projects that worsen climate change. Fossil fuel use should have stopped by 2025. This should be reflected by the ESF, with stringent policies barring the financing of any more fossil fuel projects. If not, it fails to safeguard the environment or any community.”

-Ian Rivera, National Coordinator of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice

  1. “This draft safeguards policy does little to rectify the black hole that is ADB’s financial intermediary lending. Communities harmed by ADB investments have a right to seek remedy, but there can be no accountability if we can’t see where the money is really coming from. The Bank’s safeguards for intermediary lending need drastic improvement, to ensure full transparency about its involvement in all projects it funds – including clear disclosure of ADB financing at project sites and in community consultations.”

-Kate Geary, Co-Director, Recourse

INC-4 Day 1, April 23, 2024

Setting the Stage: the Opening Plenary

Today marked the first day of the fourth round of negotiations for a global plastics treaty. Member States and civil society crowded into the Shaw Center to hear the opening remarks. United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director Inger Anderson recognized the world’s 20 million waste pickers, and reiterated the need for a just transition in the treaty. She also emphasized the UNEA 5.2 resolution calling for  “…an instrument that deals with the full lifecycle of plastic. To stop plastic pollution, we need to start at the start and end at the end.” 

Steven Guilbeault, Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change echoed the need for a treaty that addresses the impacts of plastic from extraction to disposal. “There is no miracle solution. Neither recycling, nor banning, nor innovation alone can lead us to where we need to go. [We need action to] tackle the entire lifecycle of plastic pollution, considering production, design, and elimination.” 

Africa and Pacific Small Island Developing States Continue to Lead Ambition

Throughout the INC’s, many of the countries most impacted by plastic pollution and climate change have shown the most ambition for a strong plastics treaty, particularly the African Bloc and Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS). This was no different on the first day of INC-4. Vanuatu on behalf of PSIDS, stated in plenary that downstream measures alone can not prevent the plastics crisis, and that the treaty must include overall reduction of plastics including primary plastic polymers and elimination of chemicals of concern.

Rwanda stated that we have no time to waste. The Vast majority of African states support reduction of plastic production to sustainable levels, with global, legally bound, time bound targets. 

The ‘Like-Minded Group’ is more formalized

At INC-3 in Kenya, a loose confederation of petro-states banded together to obstruct the negotiations and attempt to lower the scope and ambition of the negotiations. Now it seems that at INC-4 this group has become more of a formal entity. 

While this “Like-Minded Group” is a vocal one in the negotiations, it is also in the minority. By GAIA’s count, 144 countries have expressed a willingness to consider plastic production cuts in the treaty. 

One debate that may arise at the negotiations is around Rules of Procedure. Civil society has been demanding that democracy be protected through a provision for voting should consensus not be reached, in keeping with the most successful international environmental treaty negotiations. This provides a strong incentive for Member States to come to compromise, so that no one country can block progress and force the treaty to appeal to the lowest common denominator. The ‘Like-Minded Groups’ are attempting to block provisions for voting, which would undermine the democratic process. 

Civil Society Access Issues 

The decision to hold the INC in Ottawa created a significant obstacle for frontline communities from the Global South to obtain the necessary visa to attend. Because of visa delays, many were not able to join in time, calling into question UNEP’s ability to provide civil society with the access to meaningfully participate in the negotiations. 

Today’s civil society soundbyte

In a Greenpeace press conference held at the Shaw Center today, Jo Banner of the Descendents Project explained the connection between the petrochemical industry and the legacy of slavery in the United States: “Throughout my area of Louisiana and even other parts of the country, chemical plants are in the literal footprint of plantations. Some of these plants still have the plantation homes on their properties… Plantation land provided everything these plants need to operate. Large acreage and access to water, and a government willing to sacrifice our health. The descendents of the enslaved who were on the fenceline of the plantation are now on the fenceline of the pollution of these plants.” 

      Contact:

      Claire Arkin, Global Communications Lead

      claire@no-burn.org | +1 973 444 4869

      References: 

      For more information about GAIA’s treaty advocacy, please visit  no-burn.org/unea-plastics-treaty, follow us on X @gaianoburn, and read our Press kit.

      Global Leaders to Meet This Month to Negotiate Production Cuts in Plastics Treaty

      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 19, 2024

      Berkeley, CA, USA– In advance of the fourth round of United Nations negotiations for an international plastics treaty in Ottawa April 23-29, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) has released a groundbreaking study revealing the enormous climate impact of plastic production. The report’s findings reinforce the importance of the treaty covering the entire life cycle of plastic, from extraction to disposal, as enshrined in the 175-country agreement Resolution 5/14, which forms the basis for the treaty talks. Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) has created a policy brief that shows how rapidly the world must reduce plastic production in time to avert catastrophic warming.

      Key Findings:

      • Plastics’ impact on the climate starts with extraction. To fully capture, measure, evaluate and address the impacts of plastic pollution, assessment and regulatory controls must consider the complete lifecycle, beginning with extraction. 
      • Growth in plastic production alone will doom international climate goals. Even if every other source of greenhouse gas emissions – transportation, electricity, agriculture, heavy industry, etc. – were to miraculously and completely decarbonize in 2024, at current growth rates, primary plastic production alone would completely consume the global carbon budget as early as 2060 and no later than 2083. 
      • Deep, rapid cuts in plastic production are required by the Paris Agreement. To avoid breaching the 1.5°C limit set by the Paris Agreement, primary plastic production must decrease by at least 12% to 17% per year, starting in 2024. 

      A key tension point in the negotiations thus far is over including ambitious and binding plastic production cuts in the final treaty. The vast majority of countries engaged in the negotiation process have remained open to including production reduction targets in the treaty. However a small but vocal minority, primarily made up of fossil fuel-producing nations, have sought to sabotage the talks through obstruction tactics and by arguing that plastic pollution starts only at the disposal stage. In light of the new data from LBNL, this small group’s obstruction imperils the world’s ability to decarbonize in time to avoid climate disaster.  

      The petrochemical  industry itself has had a significant presence at the negotiations– 143 industry lobbyists registered to attend INC-3, a larger group than any national delegation or civil society organization, and has gained extensive access to government representatives from around the world. Civil society is calling for their removal from further negotiations to avoid conflict of interest. 

      GAIA Science and Policy Director and Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, Dr. Neil Tangri, states: “While global leaders are trying to negotiate a solution to the plastic crisis, the petrochemical industry is investing billions of dollars in making the problem rapidly worse. We need a global agreement to stop this cancerous growth, bring down plastic production, and usher in a world with less plastic and less pollution.” 

      Co-author Dr. Sam Adu-Kumi, former Director of the Chemicals Control and Management Centre of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ghana, says, “Africa has been one of the most ambitious regions in the plastics treaty negotiations. We recognize the impact of plastic pollution on our people’s health, environment and livelihoods and we know from experience that upstream measures are needed to enable downstream success in combating plastic pollution.”

      Co-author Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, Adjunct Professor and Research Faculty Fellow, Silliman University, Dumaguete, Philippines, states, “The Philippines is on the frontlines of both climate change and plastic pollution. Heat waves, powerful typhoons and flooding are getting worse, and the petrochemical industry has displaced our traditional systems with mountains of plastic that poison our communities. Whether the treaty includes plastic production cuts is not just a policy debate. It’s a matter of survival.” 

      Press contacts:

      Claire Arkin, Global Communications Lead

      claire@no-burn.org | +1 973 444 4869

      Note to editor: 

      Dr. Neil Tangri was an expert reviewer on the LBNL report, and the conclusions cited above are based on that report’s data. The full policy brief can be found here. For more information about the upcoming plastics treaty negotiations (INC-4), please see our press kit. 

      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. 

      More Environmental Justice Stories

      Controversy on Waste: To Burn or Not to Burn?

      Canada in the Spotlight as Host of Plastics Treaty Negotiations

      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 4, 2024

      While Canada is set to host the next round of the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations April 23-29, Canadian groups are raising an alarm about the expansion of waste incineration across the country. Dubbed “waste-to-energy” (WTE) by industry, burning waste through methods like incineration, gasification and pyrolysis is a practice that would undermine federal climate, plastics, and waste management policies.

      “Canada has goals to end plastic pollution and stop climate change. That means we must close the door to polluting and wasteful garbage incineration,” said Karen Wirsig, Plastics Senior Program Manager at Environmental Defence. “Incineration poses real risks to the environment and human health. Plus, garbage is not a clean or ‘renewable’ energy source and incinerators have been found to emit more greenhouse gasses per unit of electricity than fossil fuels.”

      The Town of Pontiac, Quebec, is fighting a proposal for a new waste incinerator to burn garbage from the City of Ottawa, where the treaty negotiations will take place. Other incinerator proposals are surfacing in Brampton, Ontario, and Edmonton, Alberta, among others.

      The rise in incinerator proposals follows a report released last year by the federal government and shared with municipal officials that suggests incineration is a climate-friendly approach to waste management. That federal report was recently debunked by research commissioned by Zero Waste BC and GAIA.

      Incineration threatens efforts to establish Canada as a leader in tackling plastic pollution, climate change and diversion of organics.

      Analysis by the Canadian Zero Waste Coalition shows that:

      Report author and environmental engineer Belinda Li, noted, “it is very important that our government supports real solutions like waste prevention and reduction and not costly distractions such as WTE. If we prevent waste from being generated in the first place, we can extend the life of our landfills and make the best use of our existing infrastructure.”

      The floundering of experimental WTE plants offers cautionary tales to other communities. “Across Canada incinerators have proven to be costly failures that waste millions of dollars in taxpayer funding, exceed emission limits, never meet operational targets, and delay municipalities from taking actions that would actually reduce and divert organics and post-consumer goods,” says Liz Benneian, founder of the Ontario Zero Waste Coalition. 

      For instance, from its inauguration in 2008, until it declared bankruptcy in 2015, the Plasco incinerator in Ottawa burned through $13.5 million in federal and provincial funding plus $8 million per year in municipal subsidies. The plant had numerous operational issues, processed only one third of the waste it promised and racked up 25 records of noncompliance with emission regulations.

      More than three-quarters of waste disposed in Canada could have been avoided, recycled, or composted. “Local governments are setting ambitious zero waste targets, but when we burn waste, those goals go up in smoke,” said Sue Maxwell, chair of Zero Waste BC and former municipal councillor. “Proactive municipalities are reducing their waste through zero waste policies and programs.”

      “Europe is often cited as a model for WTE but the European Union is turning away from WTE and major European financial institutions have pulled funding from WTE projects,” notes Janek Vähk, Zero Pollution Policy Manager for Zero Waste Europe. “Meanwhile, the EU has established an ambitious target of halving total residual waste by 2030 and WTE would lock in generation of waste over time to keep the incinerators running.”

      WTE facilities are often particularly harmful to environmental justice communities. 

      “Fenceline communities are badly impacted by particulates and other hazardous air emissions, in addition to truck traffic” noted Dr. Neil Tangri, Science and Policy Director at GAIA,  “Some of the worst impacts are felt in the far north, where First Nations bear extremely high body burdens of persistent organic pollutants such as dioxins from incinerators that biomagnify in the food chain.” 

      As all eyes look to Canada later this month, over 40 environmental groups across the country implore the country to be a true leader and reject WTE in favor of zero waste solutions. (link to action page)

      For more information about this campaign and to access the coalition’s publications, please visit https://www.no-burn.org/stopping-waste-to-energy-in-canada/ 

      CONTACT

      Claire Arkin, Global Communications Lead: claire@no-burn.org | +1 973 444 4869

      About the Coalition:

      The Canadian Zero Waste Coalition is a coalition of environmental groups including the Ontario Zero Waste Coalition, Zero Waste BC, GAIA, Environmental Defence, Zero Waste Canada, Toronto Environmental Alliance, Durham Environment Watch, Waste Watch Ottawa, and Citizens of the Pontiac.

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      By Chaima Ktaifi

      Ramadan is the fasting month. Fasting from eating and drinking encourages spiritual reflection and increases devotion and self-discipline. It is also the best time to stop bad habits, including food waste.

      Unfortunately, with increased food consumption this month, it’s easy to fall into the trap of creating more waste than necessary. In Tunisia, about 900.000 pieces of bread are wasted and thrown away daily, which is the equivalent of 100.000 USD; moreover, according to the National Institute of Consumption, one-third of the cooked food is wasted and thrown away, the equivalent of 200.000 USD. On the other hand, more than 500.000 Tunisians are suffering from malnutrition diseases or are not able to buy food.

      In addition to this economic and social impact on individuals and the country in general, food waste accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It leads to water wastage as well as, other natural resources used in food production.

      Therefore, it’s important for us to be conscious of how much food we waste, especially in this month of gratitude and self-reflection.

      Zero Waste Tunisia (ZWT) has been engaged since 2018 in raising awareness against food waste and loss, which is basically a behavioral challenge. Through our digital and media campaigns, we present the shocking statistics of food waste in Tunisia, awareness illustrations, and zero waste tips and solutions to reduce food waste based on our culinary heritage, transforming food waste into new recipes, cosmetics, or hygienic products.

      Our campaign has been successful for the past few years. Many Tunisian media outlets have been soliciting our expertise to spread the zero waste culture in our daily lives, especially to fight against food waste and loss. This big problem has been hidden for a long time, and through our digital campaign, we have highlighted and encouraged many communities and zero waste enthusiasts to talk about it freely, critique it, and propose possible solutions.

      Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection and growth. But it’s also a time to consider our impact on our communities and contribute to environmental sustainability. By making conscious choices about food consumption, we can reduce our environmental footprint and make a positive impact in this critical time when we are struggling with hunger, food insecurity, and climate change nationally and globally.

      The page dedicated to zero waste food digital campaigns: https://www.facebook.com/antigaspillagetunisie

      An Interview with BBC Arabia about food waste in Ramadan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA189PP1Zqs

      Ends.

      In the wake of the Nigerian plastic tsunami, a coalition of CSOs, including the Centre for Earth Works (CFEW) in Nigeria, have continued to amplify their voices to address this growing menace of plastic pollution, undermining sustainable growth, development, and ecological conservation. The plastic treaty has proven to be a strong framework for combating plastic pollution, CFEW in collaboration with members of the GAIA Nigeria team, including the Green Knowledge Foundation (GKF), Community Development and Advocacy Foundation (CODAF), and Environmental Right Action (ERA) through the Plastic Treaty policy project has been at the frontline of intense engagement with the Nigerian government at Federal, State and Local level to promote the ambitious positions of the BFFP movement and GAIA Network including the efforts to ban all single-use plastics and establish mechanisms for plastic withdrawal by industries, business centres and in households.

      Nigeria is a major producer of plastics in Africa. Nigeria’s plastic industry is driven by the country’s petrochemical industry and large growing population. The country has a population of over 200 million people, and this number is expected to continue to grow in the coming years. The growing population is creating a huge demand for plastic products, such as packaging, bottles, and construction materials. Plastic production is set to increase along with the importation of virgin plastic pallets.

      The past six decades witnessed the introduction of different nascent plastic materials, which were highly appreciated globally due to their water-resistance nature, durability, and affordability. These qualities of plastics support the convenient packaging of most household items and other industrial products that support human consumption, thus, promoting the production of large quantities of plastics, including single-use plastics. However, since plastics are made of non-biodegradable substances, they pose serious threats to the world’s ecosystem with grave health effects on both human and marine lives. A local study of children and adolescents living and going to school near major dumpsites across African urban centres reported respiratory, gastrointestinal, and dermatological illnesses. However, to date, there is no international data on the health impacts of burning plastic waste.

       Following several activities from CSOs, especially the GAIA Nigeria Team with CFEW spearheading the Plastic Treaty policy advocacy in the country. We have had press media briefings, social media engagement, and publications, including the Nigeria Plastic Tsunami launched in September 2023. Subsequent Pre and Post INC engagements with Federal and State government bodies, including The Federal and state Ministry of Environment, The Nigeria Customs Service,  The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA),  Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), and community leaders across the country at regular intervals to debrief the ongoing plastic treaty process and how the country can be better positioned for the implementation of the result. This advocacy has been carried on to the following states, such as Plateau, Delta, and Edo, where the Nigerian Plastic Treaty Project is being implemented.  

      The Plastic Policy advocacy has yielded some positive outcomes in recent times, starting with a fresh commitment from the Ministries of Environment to ensure inputs from the GAIA Movement position as they look to revise the Environmental management policies, especially the one on Plastic pollution, followed by the ban on single-use plastics within their premises, which serves as a pace-setting. 

      The government of Lagos state, which is the most populous and industrious state in the country, has recently announced a ban on the usage and distribution of styrofoam and other single-use plastics in the State, with Abia State following, and more states are expected to make their announcement in the coming days. Other major outcomes include individuals in various communities’ commitment to embrace a Plastic-free lifestyle. 

      Ends.

      In January 2024, Nipe Fagio (NF) celebrated Zero Waste (ZW) Month in Zanzibar Island, focusing on two key programs aimed at raising awareness and promoting sustainable waste management practices. With a focus on students and households, NF conducted impactful activities that shed light on the detrimental effects of plastic on human health and the environment, while also providing practical training on household composting. The outcomes of ZW Month in Zanzibar have paved the way for a more conscious and environmentally responsible community.

      Storytelling of Plastic Effects to Students

      On January 24, 2024, NF organized a storytelling session at Dr. Salim Amour Secondary School and Chumbuni Primary School, reaching out to over 1000 students, teachers, and local government representatives. The session highlighted the negative impacts of plastic on human health and the environment. Students were made aware of the harmful consequences of daily plastic usage, such as packaging hot food in plastic materials and indiscriminate disposal. By instilling a sense of responsibility and knowledge, NF aimed to inspire students to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle, reducing plastic consumption and practicing waste segregation.

      Master Households Composting in Zanzibar

      Recognizing the issue of organic waste disposal in Zanzibar, NF conducted a master training session on household composting on January 25, 2024. Many households in the region dispose of organic waste in open spaces or rivers, unaware of its potential for reuse. The training, attended by more than 60 participants from the Chumbuni local government and households, focused on equipping attendees with various composting techniques. The newly established Material Recovery Facility (MRF) served as the Zero Waste Model Implementation center, providing a practical setting for hands-on training. By promoting household composting, NF aimed to divert organic waste from improper disposal and create a valuable resource for improving soil conditions in farms and gardens.

      The ZW Month activities in Zanzibar have yielded significant outcomes, contributing to a more sustainable and waste-conscious community:

      Increased Desire for Zero Waste Living: The storytelling sessions and awareness campaigns have inspired students to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle. By reducing plastic consumption, practicing waste segregation, and choosing reuse, students are actively contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment.

      Organic Waste Diversion through Composting: The master training on household composting has equipped households with the knowledge and techniques to divert organic waste from improper disposal. By composting at home, households can significantly reduce the amount of organic waste that ends up in open spaces or rivers.

      Behavior Change and Best Practices: ZW Month activities have fostered behavior change among the community, encouraging the adoption of best practices in solid waste management. Concepts such as reuse, reduce, refuse, refurbish, and repurpose have become ingrained in the daily lives of Zanzibar residents, leading to a significant reduction in waste generation.

      Opportunity Creation through Waste Diversion: The master training has not only raised awareness but also created opportunities for the community. By utilizing compost in their farms, residents can improve soil conditions and enhance agricultural productivity, leading to a more sustainable and self-sufficient future.

      Nipe Fagio’s ZW Month in Zanzibar has been a resounding success, engaging students and households in the pursuit of a zero-waste lifestyle. Through impactful storytelling sessions and practical training on household composting, NF has empowered the community to take responsibility for their waste and make conscious choices. The outcomes of ZW Month in Zanzibar serve as a testament to the power of education, awareness, and community engagement in creating a cleaner and more sustainable future.

      Ends.

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