Climate

29 October 2025 – Residents and waste pickers in the city of Barueri, Sao Paulo state, are fighting Brazil’s first major incinerator project. Proposed in 2010, the plant is now under construction despite fierce opposition. It is set to burn 300,000 tonnes of unsorted household waste a year from Barueri and the surrounding area, and generate electricity. This undermines the national policy to reduce, reuse and recycle waste where possible, leading to worse outcomes for the climate, energy costs and jobs.

  • A zero waste strategy* for Barueri would cut 3 million tonnes CO2e by 2060 compared to incineration, GAIA modelling shows. That’s like taking 650,000 cars off the road for a year. While either scenario cuts methane emissions from landfill sites, burning the waste generates large volumes of carbon dioxide, while composting and recycling do not.
  • As a source of power, incinerators are expensive. Electricity from burning waste in Brazil costs more than three times as much as the average wind or solar farm, public energy auction data shows.
  • Recycling employs more than 800,000 waste pickers organised in cooperatives across the country, while incinerators are automated and generate few jobs.

There are two live lawsuits against the municipality, the companies involved in the Barueri incinerator project, and the environmental licensing agency (CETESB).

A popular action, filed by residents, challenges the validity of the environmental licence and the loosening of state and municipal legislation. Specifically, the change to the city’s urban zoning law permitting the incinerator to be built in a densely populated area.

The second lawsuit, filed by Instituto Futuro, disputes the legality of the ongoing construction works. The installation licence for the Barueri incinerator expired in 2021.

“The implementation of incinerators in Brazil is marked by laxity and disregard for environmental legislation,” says Karoline Santana, lawyer and member of SOS Barueri Collective, “but also by the struggle of organized civil society. We won’t stop fighting.”

Waste is a climate issue. A fifth of human-driven methane emissions come from waste and 70% of total global emissions come from the material economy.

The Barueri project is one of several big, expensive incinerators planned in Brazil and hundreds around the world. Incinerators lock in carbon dioxide emissions, sideline waste pickers and undermine recycling efforts. There is a better way: community-led zero waste initiatives can create good jobs, cut emissions at every step of the value chain and build resilience to climate impacts.

Globally, 94% of finance for cutting methane emissions from waste goes to incinerators like Barueri’s. The upcoming COP30 climate conference in Brazil is an important moment for governments and financiers to back genuine zero waste strategies.

“Zero waste isn’t just the right environmental and climate choice – it’s a smarter investment with lasting benefits for communities,” says Victor Argentino, solid waste expert at Instituto Pólis. “We need to rethink finance for people, not for private profit and outdated technocratic solutions.”

*The zero waste scenario involves composting 80% of organic waste and recycling 48% of recyclables, based on industry best practice and local context.

Contacts

Karoline Santana, Lawyer and Member of SOS Barueri Collective (speaks Portuguese, can text in English): +55 11 98379-2013

Tânia Mara Moraes, Environmental Project Manager and Member of the SOS Barueri Collective (speaks Portuguese, can text in English): +55 11 94776-9862

Victor Argentino, Solid Waste Expert at Instituto Pólis (speaks Portuguese, English): victor.argentino@polis.org.br

Neil Tangri, Science and Policy Director at GAIA (speaks English): neil@no-burn.org 

Sonia Astudillo, Global Climate Comms Officer at GAIA: sonia@no-burn.org

Resources

  1. Zero Waste as An Effective Climate Strategy: Avoiding Warming Tradeoffs from Incineration (GAIA modelling for three cities including Barueri)
  2. Zero Waste to Zero Emissions: How Reducing Waste is a Climate Gamechanger (GAIA research)
  3. SOS Barueri campaign information (in Portuguese)
  4. Waste not: Time to rapidly scale methane abatement finance in the waste sector (CPI research)

About GAIA:

GAIA is a network of grassroots groups as well as national and regional alliances representing more than 1,000 organizations from over 100 countries. With our work we aim to catalyze a global shift towards environmental justice by strengthening grassroots social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution. We envision a just, Zero Waste world built on respect for ecological limits and community rights, where people are free from the burden of toxic pollution, and resources are sustainably conserved, not burned or dumped. www.no-burn.org

GAIA’s 25 Year Leadership on Zero Waste

GAIA is one of the founders of the zero waste movement, with a 25 year history of supporting over 1,000 members to build successful zero waste policies and practices in over 100 countries across the globe. From the Philippines to Brazil, from Senegal to Slovenia, GAIA members are working with cities in their transition to zero waste, reshaping the way waste is conceived. In very diverse contexts, cities moving away from waste management and towards zero waste systems are building resilience, vibrant economies, community empowerment, and achieving high diversion rates. 

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is funding GAIA through the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to advance key zero waste implementation strategies worldwide. Through this partnership, GAIA is working with CCAC to implement effective zero waste solutions that reduce waste methane emissions and promote community-led approaches within national climate policy agendas across 14 countries — 12 of them in Africa. GAIA is also an active member of CCAC’s Waste Hub Leadership Group and has shared its work and experiences at several CCAC annual gatherings, contributing to global dialogue and collaboration on waste and methane reduction. GAIA and its European branch, Zero Waste Europe, are also affiliates of UN-HABITAT’s WasteWiseCities.  GAIA is also supported by the Global Methane Hub and facilitates a quarterly Global Action Hub on Waste Methane and Environmental Justice to advance dialogue and collaboration on the implementation of waste methane reduction strategies worldwide. 


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Zero waste leaders and practitioners from across the GAIA network will be attending the Global Zero Waste Forum, and many will be appearing as speakers in the official program. Please say hello! We are happy to talk at length about: -True zero waste versus false solutions -Environmental justice including waste picker rights -Stories of successful zero waste city systems worldwide -Shifting finance towards fast and efficient methane reduction …and much more!

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African leaders must be firm and united, prioritising the needs of the African people in their demands ahead of COP30. 

By Ibrahim Khalilulahi Usman, Africa Communications Associate, GAIA Africa

The 2nd Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), a major climate conference held every two years by African Union member states under the auspices of the African Union Commission (AUC), is underway in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

African heads of state and government, global leaders, development partners, civil society representatives, private sector actors, researchers, climate champions, and members of academia are participating in this three-day event under the theme “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development.”

ACS2’s focus is on two key priorities: showcasing Africa-led solutions in renewable energy, adaptation, green growth, and nature-based resilience; and unlocking climate finance by advocating for fair, predictable, and scaled-up resources to meet Africa’s priorities. The summit is also expected to yield several significant outcomes, including the Addis Ababa Declaration, which will present a unified African voice ahead of COP30 in Brazil.

While we acknowledge this effort, GAIA Africa, together with grassroots environmental organisations across the continent, believes that ACS2 should not be just another event of “All Talk, No Action.” African leaders must be firm and united, prioritising the needs of the African people in their demands ahead of COP30. 

The urgency is undeniable; African countries are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and highly vulnerable to its impacts.  Not only are our economies tied to climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, but our adaptive capacity has been deliberately underfunded, and unjust global systems have left our governance structures weakened. Africa faces a disproportionate burden from climate change, despite being the least responsible for the crisis.

The continent is experiencing temperature increases faster than the global average, leading to severe impacts such as drought, flooding, and the spread of climate-sensitive diseases like malaria. These challenges threaten both food security and overall development. 9 out of the 10 world’s most vulnerable nations are located in Africa, according to the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN Index). 

The countries include Chad, the Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Niger, Zimbabwe, and Liberia, which are already being pushed to the brink. 

What’s needed is not more empty talk, but an urgent just transition with adaptation plans that protect people, not profits.

As such, we want to see the following issues prioritised by heads of state as the summit commences:

Circular Economy: Heads of state should promote policies and practices that focus on the 7 Rs of waste management (Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Repurpose, and Recycle.) particularly emphasising reuse.

Organic Waste Management: Effective policies should be implemented to support the source separation of waste, as well as effective collection, recycling, and composting of organic waste to reduce GHG emissions and help the informal sector across the economic value chain.

Submission of NDCs for 2031–2035: The African Union, as the organiser of the summit, should encourage governments to submit ambitious and timely Nationally Determined Contributions that specifically address the role of waste management in achieving national climate goals ahead of COP30.

Just Transition: The summit should ensure that climate actions create equitable opportunities and protect workers and communities, leaving no one behind while avoiding false solutions that are harmful to people and the planet. Climate action strategies should focus on waste management value chains and uphold environmental justice principles, rejecting the burning of waste for energy, greenwashing, and waste colonialism while promoting the inclusion of waste pickers and the creation of green jobs.

It is important to note that ACS2 serves as an opportunity to be a space where movements, governments, and allies come together to forge genuine, accountable partnerships that deliver justice for communities on the frontlines.

While there are high expectations from the summit, the realities on the ground across Africa serve as a reminder that any proposed action or policy must benefit these impacted groups.

As Thomas Sankara declared, “We must choose between champagne for a few, or safe drinking water for all”.

ENDS.

By Mariel Vilella, GAIA Climate Program Director

This week, Addis Ababa is hosting the Second Climate Week, a critical moment for shaping climate commitments ahead of COP30. For the first time, the Sharm el-Sheikh Mitigation Ambition and Implementation Work Programme has dedicated its Sixth Global Dialogue and Investment Event to waste and the circular economy, bringing together governments, city networks, development banks, NGOs, and local organisations to discuss actionable solutions.

We are particularly pleased that Neil Tangri, GAIA’s Science and Policy Director, and Eskedar Awgichew, Executive Director at Eco-Justice Ethiopia are participating on the ground, helping to advance discussions that will influence urban mitigation policies and funding priorities around the world.

For too long, the waste sector has been overlooked in climate action, despite offering some of the most immediate and cost-effective opportunities to reduce emissions. Methane from organic waste, largely sent to dumpsites and landfills, is one of the largest and fastest-reducing sources of greenhouse gases available today. Scaling up zero waste strategies, composting, recycling, and circular economy models could deliver rapid climate benefits, while supporting communities and protecting livelihoods.

A major conversation this week is around the role of incineration versus zero waste approaches. Evidence from cities in the Global South shows that incinerators often fail to meet expectations. A striking example is Addis Ababa’s Reppie waste-to-energy facility, which was promoted as a groundbreaking solution. The plant was designed to handle 1,400 tons of waste per day but currently processes only 400–700 tons. It produces just half of the electricity promised, requires extra fuel because most of the waste is organic, displaces local waste workers, generates 85 tons of toxic ash daily, and costs $6.2 million to operate each year. This experience is a cautionary tale: investments in incineration can undermine climate goals and social equity.

By contrast, zero waste solutions—composting, recycling, and decentralized systems—are scalable, cost-effective, and inclusive. They reduce emissions, protect communities, and align with the principles of a just transition, ensuring that waste workers and informal recyclers are recognized and supported rather than displaced. Climate action in the waste sector must be inclusive, equitable, and rooted in social and environmental justice.

Another critical dimension is financing. Many local governments and community-based organizations lack access to the resources they need to implement sustainable waste solutions. Climate finance must be direct, inclusive, and designed to support operational costs and long-term sustainability, not just capital-intensive infrastructure projects. Strengthening technical capacity and building local expertise are equally important to ensure that zero waste initiatives succeed and scale effectively.

Innovation also matters. The tools and technologies to mitigate waste methane already exist. The challenge is to implement them in ways that are context-appropriate, accessible, and community-centered, so that both people and the planet benefit. Scaling up circular economy models offers an opportunity for transformative change that goes beyond emissions reductions, building more resilient, equitable cities.

The takeaway is clear: the waste sector offers immediate, cost-effective, and socially just climate solutions. Prioritizing zero waste strategies can achieve rapid methane reductions, support a just transition for workers, and accelerate progress toward COP30 goals. Incineration, in contrast, diverts resources, harms communities, and threatens both climate and justice outcomes.

As delegates gather in Addis Ababa this week, the message is simple: invest in zero waste, not incineration—because the future of climate action and social equity depends on it.

GLOBAL STUDY PROVES INCINERATORS WORSEN CLIMATE IMPACTS WHILE COMMUNITIES PUSH FOR JUST SOLUTIONS

(SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE TRANSLATION BELOW)

[PRESSCON RECORDING]

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia  – 04 September 2025 — From Asia to Latin America to Africa, communities are at the frontlines of both climate impacts and the fight against false solutions in waste management. A new report released by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), launched this Second Climate Week in Africa, demonstrates that zero waste offers the clearest, most effective path forward—outperforming incineration and other “business-as-usual” practices in reducing long-term climate impacts.

The publication, Zero Waste as an Effective Climate Strategy: Avoiding Warming Tradeoffs from Incineration, is one of the four GAIA Technical Guidance Series for Policymakers and Financiers on Fast Action on Waste and Methane. It examines the long-term global warming impacts of three waste management approaches: open dumping and landfilling, waste-to-energy (WTE)  incineration, and zero waste systems that include source separation, composting, and recycling.

Drawing from case studies in Lagos, Nigeria; Barueri, Brazil; and Quezon City, Philippines, the report applies the Solid Waste Emissions Estimation Tool (SWEET) and the FaIR climate model to project temperature outcomes through 2060. The findings are irrefutable: zero waste is the most effective and resilient strategy to reduce climate impacts from the waste sector. Unlike incineration, which trades short-term methane reductions for increased carbon dioxide emissions, zero waste delivers rapid methane cuts without creating new warming problems.

Beyond the data, the report spotlights how frontline communities in all three regions are resisting incinerator projects and advancing decentralized zero waste systems. These movements show how climate solutions can deliver environmental justice, social co-benefits, and a just transition for wastepickers.

The report comes at a pivotal moment. In Latin America, Brazil—host of the upcoming COP—is facing local battles over incineration even as it positions itself as a climate leader. In Asia, cities like Manila are at the forefront of both incineration threats and zero waste innovation. And in Africa, governments are weighing climate finance options that will determine whether communities are locked into polluting infrastructure or supported in building resilient zero waste systems.

For GAIA, the message is clear: Zero Waste offers the fastest, fairest, and most cost-effective way to cut methane emissions, and it must be at the center of global climate strategies.

SPEAKERS QUOTES: 

The Global Methane Pledge is a promise we cannot afford to break. Our findings show that zero waste delivers the rapid methane reductions the world needs to meet climate targets, without the carbon penalty of incineration. If governments are serious about keeping warming under 1.5°C, zero waste must be at the heart of their plans heading into COP30. – Neil Tangri, Science and Policy Director of GAIA

Communities in Africa are rejecting incinerators because we see firsthand the toxic smoke, the health risks, and the debt they bring. We deserve climate solutions that clean our air, not poison it. Zero waste programs protect our children’s health, create real jobs, and keep decision-making in the hands of local people. – Weyinmi Okotie, GAIA Africa

Waste pickers have been the backbone of recycling in our cities for decades. As validated by these findings, they are already showing us real climate solutions. Supporting zero waste also means dignity, stable livelihoods, and a just transition for workers. Incineration does the opposite by burning this all away. – Brex Arevalo, Climate and Anti-Incineration Campaigner, GAIA Asia Pacific

As Brazil prepares to host Conference of the Parties (COP) 30, we have a chance to show the world that climate leadership means rejecting dirty technologies. Investing in zero waste can slash methane emissions, create thousands of green jobs, and align with Brazil’s pledge to protect our people and our planet. – Rafael Eudes, Zero Waste Alliance Brazil

Cutting methane quickly is critical to slowing climate change, and zero waste strategies gives us the tools to do it without causing new problems. Incinerators may look like an easy fix, but they simply swap one greenhouse gas for another and lock communities into decades of pollution. – Mariel Vilella, the Global Climate Program Director of GAIA

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Sonia Astudillo, Global Climate Communications Officer, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) I sonia@no-burn.org I +63 917 5969286

Dan Abril, Communications Officer for Programs, GAIA Asia Pacific | dan@no-burn.org  | 

Ibrahim Khalilulahi Usman, Africa Communications Associate, GAIA Africa | khalil@no-burn.org

GAIA is a worldwide alliance of more than 1,000 grassroots groups, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in over 90 countries. With our work we aim to catalyze a global shift towards environmental justice by strengthening grassroots social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution. We envision a just, zero waste world built on respect for ecological limits and community rights, where people are free from the burden of toxic pollution, and resources are sustainably conserved, not burned or dumped. 

[SPANISH ]

LA ESTRATEGIA BASURA CERO ES MÁS EFECTIVA QUE LA INCINERACIÓN EN LA REDUCCIÓN DE LA CONTAMINACIÓN CLIMÁTICA

UN ESTUDIO GLOBAL DEMUESTRA QUE LAS INCINERADORAS AGRAVAN EL IMPACTO CLIMÁTICO, MIENTRAS LAS COMUNIDADES EXIGEN SOLUCIONES JUSTAS

Addis Abeba, Etiopía – 4 de septiembre de 2025 —Desde Asia hasta América Latina y África, las comunidades están en la primera línea tanto de los impactos climáticos como de la lucha contra las falsas soluciones en la gestión de residuos. Un nuevo informe publicado por la Alianza Global para Alternativas a la Incineración (GAIA), presentado durante la Segunda Semana del Clima en África, demuestra que la estrategia basura cero ofrece el camino más claro y eficaz para avanzar, superando a la incineración y otras prácticas «habituales» en la reducción de los impactos climáticos a largo plazo.

La publicación, titulada «Basura cero como estrategia climática eficaz: Evitando las compensaciones de calentamiento global derivadas de la incineración», es una de las cuatro series de orientaciones técnicas de GAIA para responsables de políticas y financiadores sobre la acción rápida en materia de residuos y metano. En ella se examinan los efectos a largo plazo del calentamiento global de tres enfoques de gestión de residuos: vertidos a cielo abierto y rellenos sanitarios, incineración para la producción de energía a partir de residuos (WTE) y sistemas de basura cero que incluyen la separación en origen, el compostaje y el reciclaje.

A partir de estudios de casos en Lagos (Nigeria), Barueri (Brasil) y Quezon City (Filipinas), el informe aplica la herramienta de estimación de emisiones de residuos sólidos (SWEET) y el modelo climático FaIR para proyectar los resultados de temperatura hasta 2060.  Los hallazgos son irrefutables: basura cero es la estrategia más eficaz y resiliente para reducir los impactos climáticos del sector de los residuos. A diferencia de la incineración, que intercambia la reducción de metano a corto plazo por un aumento en las emisiones de dióxido de carbono, basura cero  logra recortes rápidos de metano sin generar nuevos problemas de aumento de la temperatura.

Más allá de los datos, el informe destaca cómo las comunidades de primera línea de las tres regiones se resisten a los proyectos de incineración y promueven sistemas descentralizados de basura cero. Estos movimientos muestran cómo las soluciones climáticas pueden aportar justicia medioambiental, beneficios sociales colaterales y una transición justa para los recicladores de base.

El informe llega en un momento crucial. En América Latina, Brasil, anfitrión de la próxima COP, se enfrenta a batallas locales sobre la incineración, incluso cuando se posiciona como líder climático. En Asia, ciudades como Manila están a la vanguardia tanto de las amenazas de la incineración como de la innovación en materia de basura cero. Y en África, los gobiernos están sopesando opciones de financiamiento climático que determinarán si las comunidades quedan atrapadas en infraestructuras contaminantes o si se les apoya en la construcción de sistemas resilientes de basura cero.

Para GAIA, el mensaje es claro: Basura cero ofrece la forma más rápida, justa y rentable de reducir las emisiones de metano, y debe estar en el centro de las estrategias climáticas globales.

CITAS DE LOS PONENTES:

El Compromiso Global sobre el Metano es una promesa que no podemos permitirnos incumplir. Nuestros hallazgos demuestran que la estrategia basura cero proporciona la reducción de metano rápida que el mundo necesita para cumplir los objetivos climáticos, sin la penalización de carbono que supone la incineración. Si los gobiernos se toman en serio el objetivo de mantener el calentamiento por debajo de 1,5 °C, basura cero debe ocupar un lugar central en sus planes de cara a la COP30. – Neil Tangri, director de Ciencia y Política de GAIA

Las comunidades africanas rechazan las incineradoras porque vemos de primera mano el humo tóxico, los riesgos para la salud y la deuda que conllevan. Merecemos soluciones climáticas que limpien nuestro aire, no que lo envenenen. Los programas de basura cero protegen la salud de nuestros hijos, crean puestos de trabajo reales y mantienen la toma de decisiones en manos de la población local. – Weyinmi Okotie, GAIA África

Los recicladores han sido la columna vertebral del reciclaje en nuestras ciudades durante décadas. Tal y como demuestran estos hallazgos, ya nos están mostrando soluciones climáticas reales. Apoyar la basura cero también significa dignidad, sustento estable y una transición justa para los trabajadores. La incineración hace lo contrario al quemarlo todo. – Brex Arevalo, activista por el clima y contra la incineración, GAIA Asia Pacífico

Mientras Brasil se prepara para acoger la Conferencia de las Partes (COP) 30, tenemos la oportunidad de mostrar al mundo que el liderazgo climático significa rechazar las tecnologías contaminantes. Invertir en basura cero puede reducir drásticamente las emisiones de metano, crear miles de empleos verdes y alinearse con el compromiso de Brasil de proteger a nuestra gente y nuestro planeta. – Rafael Eudes, Alianza Basura Cero BrasilReducir rápidamente las emisiones de metano es fundamental para frenar el cambio climático, y las estrategias de basura cero nos proporcionan las herramientas para hacerlo sin causar nuevos problemas. Las incineradoras pueden parecer una solución fácil, pero simplemente sustituyen un gas de efecto invernadero por otro y condenan a las comunidades a décadas de contaminación. – Mariel Vilella, directora del Programa Climático Global de GAIA

[PORTUGUESE]

A ESTRATÉGIA DE RESÍDUO ZERO É MAIS EFICAZ DO QUE A INCINERAÇÃO NA REDUÇÃO DA POLUIÇÃO CLIMÁTICA

ESTUDO GLOBAL COMPROVA QUE INCINERADORAS AGRAVAM OS IMPACTOS CLIMÁTICOS, ENQUANTO COMUNIDADES PRESSIONAM POR SOLUÇÕES JUSTAS

Adis Abeba, Etiópia – 04 de setembro de 2025 — Da Ásia à América Latina e África, as comunidades estão na linha de frente tanto dos impactos climáticos quanto da luta contra falsas soluções na gestão de resíduos. Um novo relatório publicado pela Aliança Global para Alternativas à Incineração (GAIA), apresentado durante a Segunda Semana do Clima em África, demonstra que a estratégia de resíduo zero oferece o caminho mais claro e eficaz para avançar, superando a incineração e outras práticas “habituais” na redução dos impactos climáticos a longo prazo.

A publicação, intitulada Resíduo Zero como estratégia climática eficaz: Evitando as compensações do aquecimento global derivadas da incineração, é uma das quatro séries de orientações técnicas da GAIA para responsáveis por políticas e financiadores sobre a ação rápida em matéria de resíduos e metano. Nela são examinados os efeitos de longo prazo do aquecimento global de três abordagens de gestão de resíduos: lixões a céu aberto e aterros sanitários, incineração para a produção de energia a partir de resíduos (WTE) e sistemas de lixo zero que incluem a separação na origem, a compostagem e a reciclagem.

Com base em estudos de caso em Lagos, Nigéria; Barueri, Brasil; e Quezon City, Filipinas, o relatório aplica a Ferramenta de Estimativa de Emissões de Resíduos Sólidos (SWEET) e o modelo climático FaIR para projetar os resultados de temperatura até 2060. As conclusões são irrefutáveis: Resíduo zero é a estratégia mais eficaz e resiliente para reduzir os impactos climáticos do setor de resíduos. Ao contrário da incineração, que troca reduções de metano de curto prazo por aumento das emissões de dióxido de carbono, resíduo  zero proporciona cortes rápidos de metano sem criar novos problemas de aquecimento.

Além dos dados, o relatório destaca como as comunidades da linha de frente nas três regiões estão resistindo aos projetos de incineradores e promovendo sistemas descentralizados de resíduo zero. Esses movimentos mostram como as soluções climáticas podem proporcionar justiça ambiental, benefícios sociais e uma transição justa para os catadores.

O relatório chega em um momento crucial. Na América Latina, o Brasil — anfitrião da próxima COP — enfrenta batalhas locais sobre a incineração, mesmo se posicionando como líder climático. Na Ásia, cidades como Manila estão na vanguarda tanto das ameaças da incineração quanto da inovação do resíduo zero. E na África, os governos estão avaliando opções de financiamento climático que determinarão se as comunidades ficarão presas a infraestruturas poluentes ou serão apoiadas na construção de sistemas resilientes de resíduo zero.

Para a GAIA, a mensagem é clara: o desperdício zero oferece a maneira mais rápida, justa e econômica de reduzir as emissões de metano e deve estar no centro das estratégias climáticas globais.

CITAÇÕES DOS PALESTANTES:

O Compromisso Global com o Metano é uma promessa que não podemos quebrar. Nossas descobertas mostram que resíduo zero proporciona as rápidas reduções de metano de que o mundo precisa para cumprir as metas climáticas, sem a penalidade de carbono da incineração. Se os governos estão seriamente empenhados em manter o aquecimento abaixo de 1,5 °C, resíduo zero deve estar no centro de seus planos para a COP30. – Neil Tangri, Diretor de Ciência e Política da GAIA

As comunidades na África estão rejeitando os incineradores porque vemos em primeira mão a fumaça tóxica, os riscos à saúde e as dívidas que eles trazem. Merecemos soluções climáticas que limpem nosso ar, não o envenenem. Os programas de resíduos zero protegem a saúde de nossas crianças, criam empregos reais e mantêm a tomada de decisões nas mãos da população local. – Weyinmi Okotie, GAIA África

Os catadores têm sido a espinha dorsal da reciclagem em nossas cidades há décadas. Conforme validado por essas descobertas, eles já estão nos mostrando soluções climáticas reais. Apoiar resíduo  zero também significa dignidade, meios de subsistência estáveis e uma transição justa para os trabalhadores. A incineração faz o oposto, queimando tudo isso. – Brex Arevalo, ativista climático e anti-incineração, GAIA Ásia-Pacífico

Enquanto o Brasil se prepara para sediar a Conferência das Partes (COP) 30, temos a chance de mostrar ao mundo que liderança climática significa rejeitar tecnologias sujas. Investir no resíduo zero pode reduzir drasticamente as emissões de metano, criar milhares de empregos verdes e se alinhar com o compromisso do Brasil de proteger nosso povo e nosso planeta. – Rafael Eudes, Aliança Resíduo Zero Brasil

Reduzir rapidamente o metano é fundamental para desacelerar as mudanças climáticas, e as estratégias de resíduo zero nos dão as ferramentas para fazer isso sem causar novos problemas. Os incineradores podem parecer uma solução fácil, mas eles simplesmente trocam um gás de efeito estufa por outro e prendem as comunidades a décadas de poluição. – Mariel Vilella, Diretora do Programa Climático Global da GAIA

Following the commitments within the Global Methane Pledge and the COP29 Declaration to Reduce Methane from Organic Waste (ROW declaration), signatory countries have pledged to significantly reduce waste methane emissions by 2030. While this will pose an increase of political and financial resources driven towards the waste sector, there is a need to ensure the implementation of measures to reduce methane emissions is in alignment with the Environmental Justice Principles for Fast Action on Waste and Methane.  

In order to support policy makers and implementers to ensure effective solutions to reduce waste methane, GAIA, with support from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the Global Methane Hub presents this series of technical publications  to address challenging issues related to methane emissions in the waste sector.

Zero Waste as An Effective Climate Strategy: Avoiding Warming Tradeoffs from Incineration assesses the long-term global warming impacts of three waste management strategies —business-as-usual disposal-based practices such as dumping and landfilling (BAU), incineration, and zero waste practices such as source separation and treatment of organics and recyclables (ZW). The analysis focuses on three urban contexts: Lagos (Nigeria), Barueri (Brazil), and Quezon City (Philippines). Using the Solid Waste Emissions Estimation Tool (SWEET) and the Finite Amplitude Impulse Response (FaIR) climate model, the analysis calculates projected temperature impacts for each strategy through 2060.

(EN) Zero Waste as An Effective Climate Strategy Avoiding Warming Tradeoffs from Incineration

(ES) Basura Cero como Solución Eficaz: Evitar el Calentamiento que Provoca la Incineración

(FR) Le zéro déchet comme stratégie climatique efficace : éviter les compromis de réchauffement liés à l’incinération

(Infographics) False Solutions for Waste: Why They Fail People and the Planet

(Infographics)Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Incineration: Wasted Time, Energy, and Resources

Addressing Landfill Methane Emissions with Environmental Justice outlines the risks of business-as-usual (BAU) approaches to landfill methane mitigation and makes the case for a sustainable, justice-centered response. It draws on international evidence, current policy trends, and community experience to identify what works, and what doesn’t, when it comes to landfill closure and organics management.

(EN) Addressing Landfill Methane Emissions with Environmental Justice

(ES) Abordar las emisiones de metano de los rellenos sanitarios con justicia ambiental

(FR) Lutter contre les émissions de méthane des décharges grâce à la justice environnementale

(Infographics) False Solutions for Waste: Why They Fail People and the Planet

Municipal Strategies for Organic Waste: A Toolkit to Cut Methane Emissions is the 1st of the GAIA Technical Guidance Series for Policymakers and Financiers on Fast Action on Waste and Methane. This toolkit introduces six key strategies to help municipalities reduce methane emissions from organic waste: animal feed, composting, vermicomposting, anaerobic digestion, black soldier fly processing, and landfill biocovers. The primary objective is to prevent organic waste from reaching landfills by prioritizing diversion and resource recovery.

(EN) Municipal Strategies for Organic Waste: A Toolkit to Cut Methane Emissions

(ES) Residuos orgánicos Municipales: Estrategias para reducir las emisiones de metano

(Infographics) Why Zero Waste?

RESOURCES

[Commentary] Second Climate Week in Addis Ababa: Waste, Circular Economy, and the Road to COP30

[Press Conference] Zero Waste Wins: From Africa to Asia to Latin America

[News Release] Zero Waste Beats Incineration in Cutting Climate Pollution: Global Study Proves Incinerators Worsen Climate Impacts while Communities Push for Just Solutions

Photo: NGO Forum on ADB

Mandaluyong City, Philippines – 14 August 2025 – Today, environmental advocates and community members gathered outside the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters to oppose the Bank’s proposed revisions to its Energy Policy. The changes are being introduced in a railroaded process and could lead to increased funding for waste incineration, mining, and nuclear power development, and other contentious energy projects across Asia.

The ADB is in the final stages of its midterm Energy Policy review, with the Board expected to vote on the updated policy in October 2025. Apart from failing to prioritize waste reduction, reuse, and recycling before burning waste for energy development as committed in the Bank’s Energy Policy, it is even expanding waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration.  The Bank proposes to burn a fraction of waste in power plants called co-firing biofuels. GAIA says it delays the much-needed termination of coal plants, generates more greenhouse gases (GHG) and other toxic emissions, and disincentivizes efforts towards environmentally preferred methods in the waste hierarchy. 

“We looked to the ADB to set an example in climate leadership and clean energy investment  — not take us backward,” said Brex Arevalo, GAIA Asia Pacific’s Climate and Anti-incineration Campaigner. “The Bank’s willingness to support these false solutions shows a shocking disregard for resource conservation, health, and climate change. How many more resources will the ADB burn on a dying planet?”

The Bank also proposes repurposing coal plants into municipal WTE incineration facilities or to burn fully with biomass materials. “Given that even problematic waste streams with toxic content like processed plastic wastes and spent tires are now being considered as biomass, the Bank is wasting scarce public funds on prolonging the agony of coal-impacted communities by turning them into WTE plants ”, Arevalo said. 

Attaching carbon capture storage facilities to WTE plants is also being proposed by the Bank. Another expensive and untested technology that only delays much-needed closure of high carbon-emitting technologies, according to  Zero Waste Europe. 

Community concerns aren’t just unfounded fears— they are supported by hard evidence.  A recent citizen-led air quality study in Surabaya, Indonesia, Ogijo, Nigeria, and Dumaguete, Philippines, found particulate matter pollution near waste-burning plants reaching up to eight times above WHO safety limits. In Dumaguete, experts estimate shutting down a local pyrolysis-gasification plant could prevent nearly 180 premature deaths annually.

“These numbers represent people’s lives—children with breathing difficulties, farmers exposed to dangerous air, waste workers in the facility, and elders living in unsafe conditions,” said Merci Ferrer, Co-convenor of War on Waste-Break Free From Plastic (WoW-BFFP) Negros Oriental. “Communities have been ignored for too long, and the time for empty promises is over.” As a result of the study of WoW-BFFP Negros Oriental, the newly elected Dumaguete Mayor, Manuel Sagarbarria,  has ordered the facility to stop its operations. 

And, beyond air pollution, the health risks of waste incineration extend into the escalating climate crisis. Heatwaves — periods of unusually high temperatures — are becoming more frequent and deadly, especially in densely populated areas like Delhi, India. Between 2013 and 2022, over 10,600 deaths in India were attributed to heat-related causes, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and outdoor workers. WTE incinerators themselves contribute to this problem by releasing large amounts of heat during their high-temperature processes.

Protesters demanded that the ADB immediately phase out its support for WTE incineration and other false solutions and instead back proven, community-centered approaches: reducing waste before it’s created, composting organic waste to cut methane emissions, and investing in clean, renewable energy that protects both people and the environment.

In the past year alone, other international financial institutions like the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) had terminated several proposed WTE incineration projects due to their high risks from community resistance to lack of financial viability.  

“Energy Policy Review for this year, rushed by the ADB, only shows how corporate interests are being put on the pedestal over people and the planet,” said Nazareth Del Pilar of NGO Forum on ADB. “Instead of closing gaps in its policy, the Bank is slipping in dangerous provisions that deepen debt, sideline human rights, and abandon justice-centered solutions.”

PHOTOS HERE 

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Media Contacts:

Brex Arevalo, Climate and Anti-incineration Campaigner, GAIA Asia Pacific | albrecht@no-burn.org | +639983510912Dan Abril, Communications Associate, GAIA Asia Pacific | dan@no-burn.org | +639174194426

By Mariel Vilella, Global Climate Program Director

New report recommends financing and scaling-up community-led organic waste management to reduce waste methane emissions

(This article was first published by We Don’t Have Time)

Opposite to the saying “for big problems, big solutions”—when it comes to reducing waste methane emissions, we should be thinking big, but not in terms of large-scale infrastructure. Precisely, a new report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) highlights that community-led, decentralized waste management models are not only more cost-efficient but also deliver numerous co-benefits — from cutting waste and emissions to strengthening local livelihoods — underscoring the urgent need for greater investments.

In Bandung, Indonesia, nine zero-waste city models have demonstrated the power of community-driven strategies to keep organic waste out of landfills. These initiatives enable nearly half a million people to avoid sending their organic waste to disposal sites, collectively diverting up to 6,500 tons of organic waste each year.

Instead, household organic waste is routed to composting facilities, where it is transformed into rich compost that can be used to nourish soil and improve food security. “There’s no such thing as ‘throwaway’ in organic waste management – composting ‘throws’ life back to the earth,” says Yobel Novian Putra, who has been involved in implementing these zero waste models with local organisation YPBB for several years.

In Brazil, waste picker cooperatives are thriving and increasingly taking a lead role in managing organic waste, alongside collecting, sorting, and processing recyclable materials — the most valuable resources in the waste stream. These cooperatives not only provide income and dignity to waste pickers, but also form key partnerships with municipalities and organizations to drive forward a more inclusive and sustainable waste management system.

“We must invest in people and social technologies—not outdated infrastructure—and rethink finance to support inclusive climate solutions,” said Victor Argentino of Instituto Polis. “The CPI’s report demonstrates that in Brazil, effective waste solutions already exist — the answers are in our hands and at our disposal. In the short term, cities must deliver essential public services, including proper waste management that prioritizes the inclusion of waste pickers and local groups in the process.” 

These stories underscore the main report’s conclusion: investing in community- and waste picker-led organic waste management is a faster, more cost-effective approach. Most importantly, these investments create jobs and strengthen local economies. According to GAIA’s analysis, organic waste management generates the highest number of jobs per tonne of waste — making it a powerful tool for both climate action and development.

“Cities have a huge opportunity to show leadership in climate action through organic waste,” says David Sutasurya of YPBB. “The most effective solution for Indonesia is to implement decentralized, community-based systems that use low-methane practices. These approaches directly address the escalating dumpsite crisis by preventing the costly treatment of wastewater polluted by decomposing organic waste.”

“Unfortunately, funding priorities are misguided. While organic waste management and treatment receive only 1% of funding, a staggering 94% goes to expensive incinerators that fail to solve landfill pollution without prior waste separation. By contrast, source separation of food waste produces food-grade organics that can directly support local food production. The lack of funding for such initiatives highlights a clear policy gap at the national level,” adds Sutasurya.

As national governments prepare to submit their new climate action plans ahead of COP30 this November, they must prioritize funding and support for community and locally led waste management initiatives on organic waste. These approaches create the most jobs, protect the environment, and offer sustainable, low-cost solutions. 

At the individual level, we all have a role to play within the community, support local composting efforts, and engage with policymakers to advocate for waste management systems that place people, the environment, and the planet at their core. 

FACT BOX

    • Human-driven methane emissions are responsible for nearly 45% of current net global warming, with waste (solid and wastewater) contributing around 20%.

    • Source-separated collection and treatment of waste can reduce methane emissions from landfills by 62% (GAIA, 2022).

    • Public budget allocations for waste management are low and mainly go to large scale projects: 1.9 to 5.1% of each municipality budget across the country in Brazil and 0.3 to 2.4% in the sampled five cities.

    • Community-based and informal operators are competitive in terms of levelized cost of waste management (LCOW = total investment + operational cost for 20 years/total volume of waste treated for 20 years) (CPI, 2025)

    • The use of composting to manage organic waste generates an average of 6.6 jobs/10,000 tonnes per year. (GAIA; 2022)

    • Around 94% (USD4.08 billion) of methane abatement finance in the waste sector went to waste-to-energy incineration in 2021/22, and only 1% (USD 20 million) to organic waste management (CPI, 2025)

    • Thermal waste-to-energy technologies (i.e. waste incineration) emit 1.43 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of plastic burned, even after energy recovery (GAIA, 2022)

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New report recommends financing and scaling-up community-led organic solid waste management 

10 June 2025 — A new report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) reveals that community-led, decentralized waste management models are not only more cost-efficient but also provide multiple co-benefits1  beyond waste and methane emissions reduction – underscoring the urgent need for greater investment in these approaches. [DOWNLOAD THE REPORT]

The report presents case studies that highlight community-based composting programs, waste pickers cooperatives, and home composting initiatives in Indonesia and Brazil. 2 It reveals that investing in community- and waste picker-led organic waste management is faster and a more cost-effective approach.3 

“Most methane abatement finance currently goes to large-scale  waste disposal infrastructure. However, the report shows that those approaches are not always the most cost-efficient. It is time for policymakers and financiers to take urgent action to make funding available to existing, successful community-led initiatives, and waste pickers groups. These local actors are already implementing climate solutions in the waste sector and offer some of  the most compelling co-benefits,” says Yobel Putra, GAIA Climate Program Officer. 

“Cities have a big opportunity to show leadership in delivering climate action through organic waste,” says David Sutasurya of YPBB. “The most effective solution for Indonesia is to implement decentralized, community-based systems that utilize ‘low-methane’ practices . These approaches directly address the escalating dumpsite crisis by preventing the costly treatment of wastewater polluted by decomposing organic waste.”

“Unfortunately, funding priorities are misguided. While organic waste management and treatment receive only 1% of funding, 94% goes to expensive incinerators that fail to solve landfill pollution without prior waste separation. By contrast, source separation of food waste yields food-grade organics that can directly support local food production. The lack of funding for such initiatives highlights a clear policy gap at the national level,” adds Sutasurya. 

According to Victor Argentino of Instituto Polis (Brazil) the cases in Brazil demonstrate that effective waste solutions already exist. “We must invest in people and social technologies—not outdated infrastructure—and rethink finance to support inclusive climate solutions. The solution is in our hands and at our disposal. In the short term, cities must deliver essential public service including proper waste management prioritising the inclusion of waste pickers and local groups.” 

“As national governments prepare to submit their new climate action plans ahead of COP30 this November, they must prioritize funding and support for  community and locally led waste management initiatives – particularly organic waste composting. These approaches create the most jobs, protect the environment, and offer sustainable, low-cost solutions. At the individual level, we all have a role to play  within the community, support local composting efforts, and engage with policymakers to advocate for waste management systems that place people, the environment, and the planet at their core. Remember: “There’s no such thing as ‘throwaway’ in organic waste management. Composting “throws” life back to the earth.” says Putra.

In the long-term, national governments must recognize these practices as a low-hanging climate solution and work to  institutionalize zero waste systems. Such approaches can bring us closer to a clean, toxic-free world –  a future where everyone  can breathe fresh air, and no one is left behind. 

Notes: 

  1. The report demonstrates  that beyond waste and methane emissions reduction, government and community-operated models present other benefits in job creation, food provision from use of waste management byproducts, and improved air and water quality from reduced methane and CO2 emissions from waste processing and transportation. 
  2. The report looks at seven cases from Indonesia that are run by the government, private companies, and communities, and ten cases from Brazil run by government, private companies, waste picker cooperatives, public-private partnership, and composting by households.  
  3. Compared to large  waste management industries, smaller, home, or cooperative models can operate with a lot less infrastructure without having to invest in land and buildings.

Media Contact: Sonia Astudillo, Global Climate Communications Officer, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) I sonia@no-burn.org I +63 917 5969286

[SPANISH VERSION]

El sector de los residuos es clave para soluciones climáticas rentables

Un nuevo informe recomienda financiar y ampliar la gestión de residuos sólidos orgánicos liderada por la comunidad

— Un nuevo informe de la Iniciativa de Política Climática (CPI) revela que los modelos de gestión de residuos descentralizados y dirigidos por la comunidad no solo son más rentables, sino que también proporcionan múltiples beneficios adicionales más allá de la reducción de los residuos y las emisiones de metano,1 lo que subraya la urgente necesidad de aumentar la inversión en estos enfoques. [DESCARGAR EL INFORME]

El informe presenta estudios de casos que destacan los programas de compostaje comunitario, las cooperativas de recicladores y las iniciativas de compostaje doméstico en Indonesia y Brasil. 2 Revela que invertir en la gestión de residuos orgánicos dirigida por la comunidad y los recicladores es un enfoque más rápido y rentable.3

«La mayor parte de la financiación para la reducción de metano se destina actualmente a infraestructuras de eliminación de residuos a gran escala. Sin embargo, el informe muestra que esos enfoques no siempre son los más rentables. Es hora de que los responsables políticos y los financiadores tomen medidas urgentes para destinar fondos a las iniciativas comunitarias existentes que han tenido éxito y a los grupos de recicladores. Estos actores locales ya están aplicando soluciones climáticas en el sector de los residuos y ofrecen algunos de los beneficios colaterales más convincentes», afirma Yobel Putra, responsable del programa climático de GAIA.

«Las ciudades tienen una gran oportunidad de mostrar su liderazgo en la lucha contra el cambio climático a través de los residuos orgánicos», afirma David Sutasurya, de YPBB. «La solución más eficaz para Indonesia es implementar sistemas descentralizados y comunitarios que utilicen prácticas de «bajo metano». Estos enfoques abordan directamente la creciente crisis de los vertederos, al evitar el costoso tratamiento de las aguas residuales contaminadas por la descomposición de los residuos orgánicos».

«Lamentablemente, las prioridades de financiación están mal orientadas. Mientras que la gestión y el tratamiento de los residuos orgánicos solo reciben el 1 % de la financiación, el 94 % se destina a costosas incineradoras que no resuelven la contaminación de los vertederos sin una separación previa de los residuos. Por el contrario, la separación en origen de los residuos alimentarios produce materia orgánica apta para el consumo que puede apoyar directamente la producción local de alimentos. La falta de financiación para este tipo de iniciativas pone de manifiesto una clara laguna en las políticas a nivel nacional», añade Sutasurya.

Según Víctor Argentino, del Instituto Polis (Brasil), los casos de Brasil demuestran que ya existen soluciones eficaces para los residuos. «Debemos invertir en las personas y en las tecnologías sociales, no en infraestructuras obsoletas, y replantearnos la financiación para apoyar soluciones climáticas inclusivas. La solución está en nuestras manos y a nuestra disposición. A corto plazo, las ciudades deben prestar servicios públicos esenciales, incluida una gestión adecuada de los residuos, dando prioridad a la inclusión de los recicladores y los grupos locales».

«Mientras los gobiernos nacionales se preparan para presentar sus nuevos planes de acción climática antes de la COP30 en noviembre, deben dar prioridad a la financiación y el apoyo a las iniciativas de gestión de residuos impulsadas por la comunidad y a nivel local, en particular el compostaje de residuos orgánicos. Estos enfoques crean más puestos de trabajo, protegen el medio ambiente y ofrecen soluciones sostenibles y de bajo coste. A nivel individual, todos tenemos un papel que desempeñar dentro de la comunidad, apoyar los esfuerzos locales de compostaje y colaborar con los responsables políticos para promover sistemas de gestión de residuos que sitúen a las personas, el medio ambiente y el planeta en el centro. Hay que recordar: «No existe el «desecho» en la gestión de residuos orgánicos. El compostaje «devuelve» la vida a la tierra», afirma Putra.

A largo plazo, los gobiernos nacionales deben reconocer estas prácticas como una solución climática fácil de implementar y trabajar para institucionalizar los sistemas de basura cero. Estos enfoques pueden acercarnos a un mundo limpio y libre de tóxicos, un futuro en el que todos podamos respirar aire fresco y nadie se quede atrás. 

Notas:

  1. El informe demuestra que, más allá de la reducción de los residuos y las emisiones de metano, los modelos gestionados por el gobierno y la comunidad presentan otras ventajas, como la creación de empleo, el suministro de alimentos a partir de los subproductos de la gestión de residuos y la mejora de la calidad del aire y el agua gracias a la reducción de las emisiones de metano y CO2 procedentes del tratamiento y el transporte de los residuos.
  2. El informe analiza siete casos de Indonesia gestionados por el gobierno, empresas privadas y comunidades, y diez casos de Brasil gestionados por el gobierno, empresas privadas, cooperativas de recicladores, asociaciones público-privadas y compostaje doméstico.  
  3. En comparación con las grandes industrias de gestión de residuos, los modelos más pequeños, domésticos o cooperativos pueden funcionar con mucha menos infraestructura, sin necesidad de invertir en terrenos y edificios.

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See related article: WASTE SECTOR HOLDS KEY TO COST-EFFICIENT CLIMATE SOLUTIONS

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