Zero waste

People stand and sift through a large pile of garbage at a landfill, with recycling and Gaia logos visible in the sky above left.

Nigeria is currently grappling with a waste crisis that poses significant threats to public health, the environment, and the overall quality of life in both urban areas and rural communities.

Annually, Nigeria generates approximately 25 to 32 million tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW), a figure that continues to rise due to rapid urbanisation. This waste stream is primarily composed of organic materials (over 50%) and plastics. 

Unfortunately, waste management practices in the country are largely inadequate, relying heavily on open dumpsites and suffering from low recycling rates. The sector faces numerous challenges, including insufficient funding, weak infrastructure, and inefficient waste collection systems, all of which contribute to serious environmental and health risks.

As Nigerian cities expand and consumption patterns evolve, the volume and complexity of waste are increasing faster than existing waste management systems can manage. Urgent action is needed to mitigate the crisis’s impact and implement viable strategies.

The Multi-Solving Action for Methane Reduction in Nigeria (MAMRN) Project is one of these strategies that offers a light at the end of the tunnel. As Nigeria intensifies efforts to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly methane. 

This project is simultaneously addressing the country’s mounting waste problem while creating new opportunities for communities.

The MAMRN project promotes a zero-waste system, an approach that aims to conserve all resources through responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials, without incineration and without discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.

Workers sorting refuse at a vast open landfill, with a waste truck on the right and logos in the sky above.

It supports agriculture through nutrient-rich compost and black soldier fly (BSF) farming, whose larvae efficiently convert organic waste into high-protein feed. The project also strengthens income opportunities for waste pickers, whose services are crucial to the waste recovery value chain, ensuring that reusable and recyclable materials are collected from residential and commercial waste bins, landfill sites, and open spaces, and revalued to generate income.

To kick off the Multi-Solving Action for Methane Reduction in Nigeria (MAMRN) Project, a baseline survey was conducted in four major cities—Lagos, Abuja, Jos, and Benin City- to understand their waste composition and identify opportunities for methane reduction.

Lagos: A Mega-City Under Pressure

Lagos, Nigeria’s economic city, generates thousands of tonnes of waste daily. The baseline report highlights that a significant portion of this waste is organic, largely from households, markets, and food businesses. Plastics also account for a significant share, reflecting the city’s dense population and vibrant commercial activity.
While Lagos has made progress in waste collection, disposal remains heavily dependent on dumpsites, leading to high methane emissions. Yet, the large volume of organic waste presents a clear opportunity for composting, BSF farming, and recycling.

Abuja: A Growing Capital with Modern Challenges

Abuja is expanding rapidly, and its waste composition mirrors that of Lagos, with organic waste accounting for the majority of the stream. Despite its structured city layout, the baseline study found no formal system in place to address the growing volume of organic waste, particularly at the government-approved Gosa dumpsite.

As the seat of power, Abuja is strategically positioned to drive national policies, regulatory reforms, and circular-economy solutions. Combined with Lagos, Nigeria’s poster child in the fight against pollution, both cities offer strong potential for Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and community-led recycling systems.

Waste composition in Abuja shows:

  • 49.3% organic waste
  • 28.8% plastics
  • 6.88% paper
  • 5.67% wood
  • 8.9% others
A vast landfill with scattered trash and a few people standing among the waste, smoke rising in the distance, and a hazy skyline on the horizon.

Jos: Unique Climate, Similar Waste Patterns

Despite its cooler climate and smaller population, Jos faces many of the same waste challenges as other cities. The baseline survey revealed that 53.3% of its municipal waste is organic, unsurprising given the region’s strong fruit and vegetable farming culture. This creates clear potential for composting systems that support local agriculture while reducing methane emissions.

Other components recorded include:

  • 21.8% plastics
  • 8.8% paper
  • 7.4% wood/furniture
  • 16.9% others

Benin City: Rich Culture, Rising Waste

Benin City, a major economic and cultural hub, showed a balanced mix of waste materials. Its markets and commercial centres are major hotspots for waste generation.

Waste composition in Benin City includes:

  • 36.1% organic waste
  • 23% plastics
  • 8.5% paper
  • 9.85% wood
  • 22.35% others

Across all four cities, one message is clear: Nigeria’s waste stream is rich in organic, recoverable and recyclable resources, essentially environmental, social, and economic ‘gold.’ However, without effective systems to capture these materials, this value is being wasted, ending up in open dumps and contributing to methane emissions, environmental degradation, and lost economic opportunities.

The MAMRN baseline report offers a clearer picture of these challenges while highlighting a unique opportunity to transform Nigeria’s waste sector, from a system focused on disposal to one centred on resource recovery, climate action, and sustainable development.

This article is the first in a series on the Methane Reduction in Nigeria (MAMRN) Project, implemented in collaboration with CfEW Jos, SraDev Lagos, Pave Lagos, CODAF Epe Lagos, and SEDI Benin City.

By Sonia G. Astudillo

When we talk about climate action, organic waste doesn’t always make the headlines. Yet it’s one of the fastest ways to cut methane — a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. Thanks to support from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), GAIA and its partners are showing how community-led zero waste solutions can deliver big wins for the climate, for people, and for local economies.


From Households to Global Climate Talks


In Bandung, Indonesia, households are separating food scraps, feeding them into composting and Black Soldier Fly (BSF) systems. By early 2026, more than 1,600 households were participating, processing over 1,000 kilograms of organic waste per day. The maggots produced are already being used as animal feed, linking waste management directly to food security.

In Valparaíso, Chile, waste picker cooperatives are building composting programs and training initiatives, despite delays in government permitting. Their persistence underscores the importance of grassroots leadership in shaping sustainable systems.

In Durban, South Africa, market-based composting pilots are underway. Initial audits show potential diversion of 8,400 tonnes of organic waste per year, cutting nearly 2,000 tonnes of methane emissions.

These local stories connect to the global stage. GAIA’s Zero Waste Academy is now live, offering training and resources worldwide. At COP events, GAIA delegates have amplified waste methane solutions, achieving 211 million audience reach via traditional media and doubling social media engagement compared to previous years.

Waste Pickers at the Center

A defining feature of this project is justice and inclusion. Waste pickers and local communities — often marginalized and under-recognized — are placed at the heart of solutions. Training, technical support, and advocacy have helped shift perceptions: waste pickers are not just informal workers, but frontline climate actors. Local communities are not just residents, they are actors of change and engagement.

Gender equity is also emphasized, recognizing the vital role of women waste pickers and addressing barriers to income, safety, and leadership.

Publications Driving Change


GAIA has produced a suite of publications to strengthen knowledge, visibility, and policy impact:

  • Technical and policy publications on organic waste, landfill methane emissions, and  global warming impacts of zero waste, waste-to-energy incineration, and business-as-usual waste management systems that aim to support policymakers in ensuring effective solutions to waste methane reduction. 

Policy Shifts and Global Impact


The initiative has influenced both policy and implementation at multiple levels:

  • Technical assistance and policy advocacy have fostered vital linkages between organic waste management, local food production, and stunting reduction, a model now being institutionalized within Bandung’s 2027 city planning and budgeting framework to ensure long-term government ownership through the collaboration of the Regional Development Planning, Research and Innovation Agency, Food Security and Agriculture Agency, Population and Family Planning Agency, and Environmental Agency.
  • Strategic efforts have unlocked cross-sectoral public funding to support composting, food production, and distribution.
  • Contributions to the recently enacted Bandung Mayor Regulation 3/2026 on Integrated Urban Farming to connect organic waste management and local food production.
  • The implementation of household Black Soldier Fly (BSF) systems as part of the city’s organic waste treatment showcases a complementing decentralized composting system in the city.
  • Pushing implementation of source-separated organic waste collection and home composting, through Bandung Mayor’s Instruction 001-DLH/2026 on Waste Segregation Officer program will increase the amount of source-separated organic waste for scaling up and replication process.
  • Regional forums in Latin America have strengthened collaboration among waste picker groups, other community-led organic management initiatives, and policymakers. It provided a learning space to share best practices on organic waste management and methane abatement, leading to a more regional impact.  
  • Globally, GAIA’s NDC Tracker shows progress in several countries: significant NDC improvements compared to the previous NDC in Brazil and Mexico, and a growing focus on environmental justice and just transition in Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Nigeria. Though gaps remain in waste picker inclusion and resistance to waste-to-energy schemes.
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A Path Forward

The outcomes of this CCAC-supported initiative prove that organic waste management is more than a technical fix — it’s a powerful entry point for climate action, social equity, and green job creation.

From compost pits in Bandung to market composting in Durban, these solutions are already being implemented, refined, and scaled. They show that a just transition in the waste sector is possible — one that cuts methane, creates livelihoods, and builds resilient communities.

8 de abril, 2026

Santiago, Chile – En una jornada marcada por el compromiso con la justicia ambiental, Fundación Basura, en colaboración con la Municipalidad de Santiago, UMI Fund y la Alianza Global para Alternativas a la Incineración (GAIA), presentó oficialmente la publicación: “Fortalecimiento del Reciclaje de base en el modelo Ferias libres Cero desperdicio”.


El evento, realizado tras la conmemoración del Día Internacional Basura Cero, destacó un esfuerzo colectivo por transformar los sistemas alimentarios locales. La iniciativa se centró en el estudio de caso de la Feria Pedro Lagos, en la comuna de Santiago, donde se logró articular el trabajo de feriantes, recicladores de base y voluntarios para evitar que toneladas de residuos orgánicos terminaran en rellenos sanitarios.

El impacto del desperdicio de alimentos

Durante la presentación, se compartieron cifras críticas que sustentan la urgencia de este modelo:


● Se estima que las 425 ferias libres de la Región Metropolitana generan más de 70 mil toneladas de residuos orgánicos anualmente.
● El desperdicio de alimentos es responsable del 10% de las emisiones globales de gases de efecto invernadero, especialmente metano.
● En la implementación del modelo en Santiago, se evitaron más de 3 toneladas de residuos mediante la donación de alimentos aptos para consumo y el compostaje de restos orgánicos.

Justicia ambiental y reciclaje de base

Uno de los hitos principales de la jornada fue el reconocimiento de las y los recicladores de base como gestores clave de la materia orgánica. “Esta es mucho más que una guía; es una hoja de ruta para que municipios, gremios y la sociedad civil puedan replicar este modelo”, señaló Camila Rivero, gestora de proyectos de Fundación Basura.


El evento contó con un panel de expertos integrado por Carolina Urmeneta, Directora de Economía Circular y Residuos del Global Methane Hub, Isabel Aguilera Subdirectora de Medio Ambiente de la I. Municipalidad de Santiago y Diego Ponce de León, Inspector de cuentas y reciclador de base de la Cooperativa Recicla Yungay, quienes discutieron la importancia de formalizar el rol del reciclaje de base en la gestión urbana para alcanzar metas climáticas globales, principalmente el materia de disminución de emisiones de metano.

“Necesitamos eliminar la disposición de orgánicos en rellenos sanitarios, pero cuando tenemos que focalizar esa disposición el modelo de las Ferias libres Cero desperdicio nos permite avanzar en esa solución”, manifestó Carolina Urmeneta.

El evento contó con una destacada convocatoria de figuras del sector público y privado. Entre los asistentes participaron Daniela Potocnjak, Analista de Sustentabilidad y Cambio Climático de la Oficina de Estudios y Políticas Agrarias (ODEPA) del Ministerio de Agricultura; Carolina Rivera, Gerente de Marketing y Asuntos Corporativos de la planta de compostaje Armony Sustentable; Ana María Briceño, presidenta de la Cooperativa Recicla Yungay; Nyssmi Cordero, representante legal de la Cooperativa Responde Verde y Mariela Pino, Campañista en mitigación de metano para América Latina en GAIA. Además, se sumaron equipos municipales de comunas como Maipú, Quinta Normal, Quilpué, San Miguel, La Florida, La Granja y El Bosque, entre otras.

Documento disponible aquí

Reconocimiento al compromiso

Para cerrar la actividad, se hizo entrega del Galardón Chungungo, una pieza que simboliza el trabajo colaborativo y el esfuerzo por dignificar un oficio que, hasta ahora, era invisible para muchos, pero vital para el planeta.


Por su parte, Tamara Ortega, Directora Ejecutiva de Fundación Basura concluyó “Cada vez que evitamos que una tonelada de residuos orgánicos termine en un relleno sanitario, estamos haciendo justicia ambiental. En este proyecto vimos que no basta con reciclar; necesitamos reconocer a los y las recicladoras de base como los verdaderos gestores del cambio. Al unir su esfuerzo con el de los feriantes, logramos que lo que era un problema gigante de desperdicio se convierta en una oportunidad para alimentar y cuidar a nuestra comunidad”.

Brussels, Belgium – 30 March 2026 – On the occasion of International Zero Waste Day, the European network Zero Waste Europe is spotlighting how communities in Montenegro are turning food waste into a valuable resource through the #ForkToFarm project. Over the last two years, Montenegrin municipalities have clearly demonstrated how decentralized bio-waste management can help reduce methane emissions, improve soil health, and support local food systems.

Across Europe, research suggests 74% of food waste generated still ends up in landfill or incineration. For a lot of European countries, landfill remains the predominant disposal methods and organic waste ending up here will decompose and release methane – a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term. By separating food and garden waste, and then composting it locally, communities can significantly cut emissions while returning valuable nutrients to the soil.

The #ForkToFarmproject, implemented by Zero Waste Montenegro in municipalities including Danilovgrad, Tuzi, Kotor and Podgorica, promotes practical solutions such as household composting, community composting sites, and awareness campaigns encouraging residents to separate organic waste at source. Through trainings and community engagement, residents learn how to transform food scraps and garden waste into compost that can be used in gardens, farms, and green spaces.

“Organic waste is one of the biggest untapped opportunities to reduce emissions in the waste sector,” said Kristina Joksimovic from Zero Waste Montenegro. “By keeping food waste out of landfills and turning it into compost, for relatively low costs, communities can take immediate climate action while supporting healthier soils and more resilient food systems. However, to unlock this potential at scale, we need significantly more public investment in organic waste management and food waste prevention. This must become a clear priority within climate and waste policies and infrastructure investments.”

The project shows that decentralized solutions can work effectively even in municipalities with limited waste management infrastructure. Participating households have reported reductions in mixed waste, while communities benefit from locally produced compost that can improve soil quality and reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers.

These initiatives also support broader European efforts to strengthen bio-waste collection and reduce the environmental impact of waste management. By empowering local communities and municipalities to manage organic waste more sustainably, the project demonstrates a scalable model that can be replicated across Europe.

“The UN Zero Waste Day reminds us that preventing waste is one of the most effective climate solutions available today,” Jack McQuibban, Head of Local Zero Waste Implementation at Zero Waste Europe,  added. “The experiences from Montenegro show that with the right support, communities can transform food waste into a resource and move closer to a zero waste future.”

By documenting these experiences, the #ForkToFarm case study aims to inspire municipalities and organisations across Europe to adopt decentralized bio-waste systems that keep organic materials in circulation and out of landfills.

Over the last few years, the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) and the Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) movement, with support from the Plastics Solution Fund (PSF), have partnered with organisations across African countries to design and implement local projects and campaigns focused on environmental justice, plastic reduction and other zero waste strategies. These initiatives have demonstrated that a zero waste future is possible, and it’s already happening. 

In Uganda, End Plastic Pollution developed and executed a zero waste model in Masulita Town, Wakiso District, where limited waste management systems once left communities struggling with pollution. Through this initiative, waste recovery increased by 30% by the end of the project. The organisation diverted a measurable percentage of waste from the Ssekanyonyi Dumpsite, thereby preventing methane emissions. Reforming the waste sector could reduce global methane emissions by 13%. Community representatives were trained to lead peer-to-peer education efforts, ensuring the model continues to grow from within. The urgency of this work cannot be overstated. 

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the waste sector remains the largest contributor to urban emissions after the energy sector and is the third-largest source of methane emissions globally, with these emissions continuing to rise. 

Methane is a short-lived greenhouse gas that traps 82.5 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Reforming the waste sector could reduce global methane emissions by 13%, with potential reductions in waste methane emissions of up to 95% achievable through composting, bio-stabilisation, and biologically active cover for dumpsites. Additionally, waste segregation and organic composting can lower landfill methane emissions by 62%.

In Ethiopia, Eco-justice Ethiopia established a strong foundation for advancing zero waste strategies and environmental justice in Woreda 09, Yeka Sub City, where communities face growing waste challenges. The initiative supported local compost manufacturers to transform organic waste into valuable resources and integrated waste pickers into formal discussions. Eco-justice Ethiopia also contributed to shifting public discourse beyond incineration, published a city-wide Plastic-Free Guide, influenced national plastic policy, and represented African civil society in global treaty negotiations.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Solidarité pour la Protection des Droits de l’Enfant led the Bukavu Zero Waste City initiative, part of a broader effort to build cleaner, healthier, and more resilient communities. Through this initiative, over 100,000 people were reached through awareness-raising activities and 480 tons of waste were collected. The project also created three waste picker committees, strengthening inclusive local systems. Promoting organic waste recovery, it enabled the production of 300 tons of compost and 1.2 tons of black soldier fly larvae, supporting 90 farmers. These efforts are empowering communities to take control of their environment and drive lasting, systemic change.

When GAIA was founded 26 years ago, the concept of zero waste in Africa was often viewed as unfamiliar. Today, GAIA members like End Plastic Pollution, Eco-Justice Ethiopia, and SOPRODE have demonstrated that it is a viable solution to addressing climate change, public health risks, social inequality, and economic hardship. Through collaboration with city officials, their efforts to develop and implement zero waste programmes have become a blueprint for municipalities in Africa, advancing a growing global movement.

During the Zero Waste Stories from Africa webinar on 26 March 2026, experts highlighted the impacts of the three projects and discussed how their zero waste approaches are contributing to reduced methane emissions and advancing climate action.

Eskadar Awgichew of Eco Justice Ethiopia 

“Addis Ababa’s waste system is centralised, landfill-dependent, and under growing pressure from incineration models. We believe that a decentralised zero waste approach can transform the system by diverting organic and plastic waste, formally integrating waste pickers, and replacing false solutions to the waste management crisis with more circular models.”

Patricia Namwanga of End Plastic Pollution

“Through our implementation of the zero waste model in Masuulita town, we can confirm that the zero waste concepts are an innovation that can unlock the opportunities along the supply chain, making waste a resource. We have proven that an integrated approach, empowering waste pickers, mobilising youth, engaging government and using data works.”

Robert Kitumaini of Solidarité pour la Protection des Droits de l’Enfant
“In Bukavu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, SOPRODE has demonstrated that organic waste is not a problem but a solution: by transforming it into compost and resources for agriculture, we have contributed to mitigating methane emissions, furthermore, ensuring food security, and creating green jobs for local communities. By addressing food waste through community-based systems, we can reduce methane emissions, support regenerative agriculture, and build more resilient and self-sufficient communities.”

The results from these projects illustrate that local waste solutions are not merely environmental interventions but also pathways to healthier communities, stronger local economies, and sustainable responses to the climate crisis. 

ENDS

For more information, please contact:  Ibrahim Khalilulahi Usman – khalil@no-burn.org 

ABOUT GAIA 

GAIA: GAIA is a global network of grassroots groups, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and individuals, in over 90 countries. The organisation envisions 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. GAIA works to catalyse a global shift towards environmental justice by strengthening grassroots social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution. www.no-burn.org 

3 de marzo, 2026

Con el objetivo de fortalecer capacidades locales y promover soluciones estructurales frente al aumento sostenido de los residuos sólidos en el país, el Centro Salvadoreño de Tecnología Apropiada (CESTA) desarrolló dos actividades estratégicas: la segunda jornada del Seminario de gestión integral de desechos sólidos dirigida a municipalidades, y el foro público “La invasión plástica en El Salvador: Importación y exportación de desechos plásticos”. Ambos espacios pusieron en el centro la transición hacia modelos basura cero como respuesta técnica, social y ambiental a la crisis de los residuos.


Municipalidades fortalecen capacidades técnicas para avanzar hacia basura cero

En el marco del proceso formativo impulsado por CESTA, representantes de nueve alcaldías y de organizaciones de sociedad civil participaron en la segunda jornada del Seminario de gestión integral de desechos sólidos.

El objetivo general fue establecer lineamientos que conduzcan a los municipios hacia una gestión sustentable de los desechos sólidos, reduciendo al mínimo la generación de basura y fortalecer la planificación institucional mediante una Hoja de Ruta hacia Municipios Cero Basura.

Durante la sesión se abordaron contenidos técnicos sobre tipos de plásticos, micro y nano plásticos, reciclaje e impactos ambientales y sanitarios, incluyendo los riesgos asociados a la incineración de residuos. La discusión subrayó que estas tecnologías representan falsas soluciones, ya que liberan contaminantes altamente tóxicos como dioxinas y furanos, con impactos directos en la salud y el ambiente.

“Para evitar una crisis de basura de grandes proporciones en un futuro cercano y dar sustentabilidad a la gestión de desechos sólidos, es necesario implementar nuevas acciones creativas que no solo se concentren en la etapa final de la recolección y disposición, sino que abarquen todas las etapas, desde la generación, almacenamiento, recolección, transporte, recuperación y disposición final de desechos y consideren los aspectos económicos, ecológicos, sociales y políticos.”, señaló Laura Mejía, de CESTA.

Por otro lado, el contexto institucional presenta desafíos complejos para que los gobiernos locales implementen acciones relacionadas a los residuos sólidos , por ejemplo, la reducción del Fondo para el Desarrollo Económico y Social (FODES), los procesos de reestructuración de los municipios a distritos y la creación en 2024 de la Autoridad Nacional de Residuos Sólidos (ANDRES) han limitado la autonomía y los recursos financieros de los gobiernos locales.

Frente a este escenario, el proceso de formación representa una contribución valiosa para el fortalecimiento de capacidades de los gobiernos municipales, aportando herramientas e información actualizada y una propuesta para la gestión sustentable de los desechos sólidos. En CESTA, esperan que a futuro cada gobierno municipal cuente con su hoja de ruta clara, realista y aplicable en el corto y mediano plazo, con metas medibles y un compromiso institucional; que cuenten con una visión estratégica con el fin de alcanzar Municipios basura cero.

“Este proceso educativo ha permitido conocer las diversas aristas desde lo ambiental, social, político de la problemática del mal manejo de los desechos sólidos. Esto ha permitido sensibilizar a los /as funcionarios municipales y participantes, para que revisen sus planes operativos e iniciativas para una gestión sustentable de los desechos sólidos y la reducción de la contaminación especialmente de los desechos plásticos.”, afirmó Laura Mejía de CESTA.

Foro nacional analiza la importación de desechos plásticos y sus impactos

Como parte del fortalecimiento de la formación ambiental y política, CESTA realizó además el foro “La invasión plástica en El Salvador”, con la participación de 60 personas entre jóvenes, universidades, recicladores de base, comunidades urbanas, organizaciones sociales y referentes municipales.

El objetivo fue actualizar a la sociedad salvadoreña sobre la magnitud de los desechos plásticos que ingresan al país, así como sobre la creciente generación interna de basura plástica. El espacio incluyó un análisis de la Convención de Basilea y sus enmiendas sobre desechos plásticos peligrosos, examinando el estado de su implementación a nivel nacional.

El foro puso en evidencia que El Salvador continúa recibiendo importantes volúmenes de desechos plásticos desde Estados Unidos, lo que incrementa la vulnerabilidad territorial y ambiental. Las y los participantes coincidieron en la necesidad de fortalecer la coordinación regional y la capacidad de respuesta informada para enfrentar esta problemática.

“Es muy importante hablar sobre importación y exportación de desechos plásticos porque seguimos siendo uno de los países que más recibe basura de Estados Unidos y la población tiene que estar informada para demandar nuestros derechos a no aumentar la vulnerabilidad del territorio. Podemos a nivel regional, encontrar estrategias comunes para enfrentar estas problemáticas.”, comentó Linda Rubio de CESTA.

Entre las principales conclusiones se destacó la urgencia de profundizar la formación político-ambiental, mantener el análisis crítico sobre las dinámicas de importación y exportación de residuos, y articular estrategias comunes que prioricen la justicia ambiental y la reducción en la fuente.

Resultados y reflexiones

Más allá de los contenidos técnicos, ambos espacios dejaron una reflexión transversal, la gestión de residuos sólidos no puede abordarse únicamente desde la infraestructura, sino que debe hacerse desde un enfoque integral que considere dimensiones económicas, ecológicas, sociales y políticas. La transición hacia basura cero requiere voluntad institucional, participación comunitaria y decisiones basadas en evidencia.

Con estos procesos, CESTA refuerza su apuesta por soluciones locales, socialmente justas, ambientalmente responsables y sin falsas soluciones como la incineración de residuos.

Sobre CESTA

  • Frente a las crisis socioambientales planetarias que tienen sus causas inmediatas en el modelo de desarrollo inadecuado y en la estructura de poder que sustenta ese modelo; CESTA contribuye a impulsar esos cambios estructurales que permitan construir sociedades más sustentables con justicia social, ambiental y de género.
  • Sitio web: cesta-foe.org.sv/
  • Redes sociales: Instagram / Facebook / X

5 de febrero, 2026

Con una apuesta por la educación como motor de transformación social y ambiental, se desarrolló en Nicaragua un proceso académico de formación en educación ambiental, que culminó con la realización del Primer seminario de educación ambiental y formación docente.

Impulsado por la Universidad Técnica de Comercio, el Centro de Investigación, Capacitación y Formación Ambiental, junto a los miembros de GAIA y Break Free From Plastic, Basura Cero Nicaragua, el proceso incluyó jornadas de formación, un ciclo de seminarios web y espacios de intercambio que permitieron fortalecer capacidades pedagógicas y metodológicas. Como resultado, nueve docentes completaron la certificación y más de 48 personas participaron activamente en las instancias virtuales previas, consolidando una comunidad educativa comprometida con el enfoque basura cero.

Para Karla Escoto, de Basura Cero Nicaragua, este camino respondió a una necesidad urgente. “En Nicaragua, el docente no suele ser considerado protagonista de la educación ambiental”, explica. Sin embargo, la experiencia acumulada en jornadas de trabajo con profesionales de la educación, sumada al involucramiento voluntario de jóvenes que ya desarrollaban acciones en colegios como reciclajes comunitarios, charlas y limpiezas de costa, evidenció que existía una base sólida sobre la cual avanzar.

Ese diagnóstico llevó a  Basura Cero Nicaragua a reflexionar sobre la importancia de incorporar durante 2025 un proceso formativo estructurado. “No se trataba solo de sensibilizar, sino de generar herramientas reales para que docentes y líderes juveniles adolescentes lideraran procesos en sus comunidades, usando los centros educativos como base de acción”, señala Karla. 

Por otro lado, uno de los momentos más significativos del proceso fue tener la oportunidad de contar con espacios de intercambio regional y escuchar las experiencias que compartieron Alicia Franco, de la Alianza Basura Cero Ecuador, Julia Elena Picado, de la Asociación Defensores del Monumento Natural Zona de los Santos, Costa Rica, y Aliz García, de Bioética, Honduras. “Hablar de basura cero en las escuelas exige partir de la experiencia vivida y sistematizada. Eso fue clave en el intercambio regional”, destaca Escoto.

Más allá del intercambio conceptual, el seminario también puso énfasis en el trabajo práctico. Las y los docentes desarrollaron herramientas que pueden aplicarse de inmediato en sus centros educativos como actividades lúdicas vinculadas al buen vivir libre de tóxicos, matrices de planificación, propuestas extracurriculares para reducir plásticos de un solo uso y orientaciones para avanzar hacia colegios basura cero.

Profesora Amalia Angulo Bonilla, Colegio Enrique de Ossó, participante de la formación docente.

Este enfoque, explica Karla, permite evaluar aprendizajes fuera del aula, identificar liderazgos juveniles y fortalecer el vínculo entre escuelas y comunidades, alineándose además con los ejes de la política educativa nacional. “Las actividades prácticas ayudan a que los y las jóvenes se conecten con experiencias reales y se alejen de dinámicas que afectan especialmente a la adolescencia”, agrega.

Más sobre Basura Cero Nicaragua:

Environmental leaders, community advocates, and policy experts from across the Asia Pacific convened on January 22 for Fire or Ice: Growth of Bioplastics in the Asia Pacific, an online discussion examining regulatory, policy, and investment trends driving the expansion of bioplastics and their implications for communities, climate, and human health.

Panelists warned that the unchecked growth of bioplastics risks repeating the environmental and social harms of conventional plastics, particularly when promoted as a quick fix rather than part of a broader system change.

Arpita Bhagat, Plastic Policy Officer at GAIA Asia Pacific and moderator of the panel, stressed the need to move beyond material substitution. “Bioplastics are often framed as sustainable by default, whereas the material combinations keep evolving without minimum design standards or safe safeguards. Without chemical transparency, strong regulations, and a clear focus on the reduction of single-use material, they are another false narrative that wastes precious resources and delays real action. Therefore, our governments must reevaluate their policy incentives for bioplastics promotion,” she said.

Participants examined the scale of bioplastics production in the region, noting that Asia has already become the largest producer and exporter. Panelists cautioned that this rapid growth is being driven more by market incentives than by environmental safeguards.

Pichmol Rugrod, Plastic-Free Future Project Lead of Greenpeace Thailand, highlighted how national policies can unintentionally reinforce harmful narratives. “Thailand is promoting itself as a biodegradable hub through investment incentives and policy frameworks like the bio-circular-green economy. But this does not address plastic pollution at its root. Plastic packaging, even when labeled biodegradable, does not truly biodegrade in real-world conditions and therefore is not the real solution. Reuse and refill systems are,” she said. 

The discussion also centered on Indigenous and frontline community perspectives. Rufino Varea, Director of the Pacific Indigenous Climate Action Network (PICAN) in Fiji, said, “Bioplastics are a regrettable solution that only creates a false sense of security about addressing the plastic crisis. They do not fit our Global South realities. We already face disproportionate waste burdens threatening our ecosystems, affecting marine food webs, and causing toxicity to our waters. Our Indigenous knowledge systems have the heritage of organic materials that are inherently circular, regenerative, and in harmony with the  economy.”

Chemical safety and environmental health risks were raised as major concerns. Jam Lorenzo, Deputy Executive Director of BAN Toxics, emphasized that bioplastics are not inherently safer. “Studies show that more than half of tested bioplastics contain toxic chemicals similar to those found in conventional plastics, including substances like lead and cadmium when production is poorly regulated,” he said. “Our position is simple. No data, no market.”

Experts also flagged agricultural and food safety impacts. Mageswari Sangaralingam, Chief Executive of the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) in Malaysia, pointed to growing evidence of harm to soils and crops. “Bioplastics are marketed as eco-friendly, but they fragment, break down into microplastics, and release chemical additives that contaminate soil and enter food systems. A 2025 study by Jing Liu found that starch-based plastic is potentially as toxic as petroleum-based plastic. We must put a blanket ban on using bioplastics for mulching films,” she said.

Doun Moon, Policy and Research Officer of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), cautioned against assuming bioplastics are a climate solution. “Switching from petroleum-based plastics to bioplastics does not automatically cut emissions, as there is a large amount of GHG emissions associated with land use, material production, and end-of-life treatments,” she said. She cited South Korea’s experience, where the bioplastics industry is growing slowly despite the government’s encouragement and attempts to pass a promotional bill. 

Legal and regulatory gaps were also highlighted. Madhuvanthi Rajkumar, an independent consultant working at the intersection of law, public policy, and rights-based advocacy from India, mentioned, “While we are seeing unprecedented policy momentum (in India and Asia) in favour of bioplastics, the primary risk is substituting one set of problems for another while believing we’ve solved the crisis. Bioplastics come with the same array of negative environmental, social, and health impacts as conventional fossil-fuel-based plastics, in some ways even worse, while giving a false sense of sustainability that increases consumption and waste generation. It’s not even old wine in a new bottle; It’s old wine in an old bottle but with a “green” label!”

The panel concluded with a shared call for action. Speakers emphasized that the Global Plastics Treaty must prioritize binding measures on plastic production reduction, toxic chemicals, and real reuse-based systems, rather than legitimizing alternative single-use materials. The focus must remain on reuse and refill systems rather than new single-use materials.

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Watch the recording here.

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Press contacts:

Asia Pacific: Robi Kate Miranda, Communications Officer for Campaigns, robi@no-burn.org  

GAIAis 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.

En el Mes Internacional Basura Cero, Fundación Basura comparte las soluciones que están implementando en ferias, escuelas, municipios y espacios públicos como alternativas concretas al modelo de “usar y botar”. Desde la prevención del desperdicio de alimentos hasta la educación ambiental y gestión de residuos en eventos deportivos, el trabajo de la organización demuestra que avanzar hacia modelos basura cero es posible, y se puede adaptar a distintos contextos.

Recolección de residuos orgánicos junto a recicladores de base en feria libre de Santiago. Fundación Basura, 2025.
Recolección de donaciones de feriantes en feria libre de Santiago. Fundación Basura, 2025.

Uno de los ejemplos más representativos es el modelo Ferias Libres Cero Desperdicio, implementado desde 2021, que ya cuenta con 35 intervenciones en ferias libres de Santiago y Valparaíso, y que ha logrado que frutas y verduras que antes terminaban en un basurero se redistribuyan a organizaciones comunitarias o se valoricen a través del compostaje o la alimentación animal. Además, gracias a este programa, se han gestionado más de 30 toneladas de residuos orgánicos,  evitando la emisión de 18 toneladas de CO₂ y 3 toneladas de CH₄. 

En 2025, se dio un paso fundamental para el éxito de los modelos basura cero, la incorporación de recicladores y recicladoras de base como parte central del sistema. Su participación no solo fortaleció la recolección y clasificación de residuos, sino que también aportó reconocimiento a su trabajo. En solo dos jornadas piloto, se recuperaron más de 3.300 kilos de residuos, de los cuales 217 kg de alimentos se destinaron a una olla común que beneficia a 180 personas semanalmente, mientras que el resto fue valorizado mediante compostaje municipal. Según la Fundación, resultados como estos demuestran que las ferias libres son espacios estratégicos para soluciones con impacto ambiental y social.

La prevención de desperdicio de alimentos también llegó a los hogares. A través de los talleres Sabores sin Desperdicio, mujeres jefas de hogar, lideresas comunitarias y emprendedoras aprendieron a aprovechar partes de frutas y verduras que normalmente se descartan. Cáscaras, tallos y hojas se convirtieron en platos nutritivos, reduciendo residuos y fortaleciendo la autonomía alimentaria.

Taller en Peñalolén. Fundación Basura, 2025.
Mermelada de cáscaras de sandía. Fundación Basura, 2025.
Taller en Santiago. Fundación Basura, 2025.

Asimismo, el programa Conexión Puma combina actividades educativas en escuelas con gestión de residuos en eventos deportivos. En el área educativa, se le enseña a niñas y niños sobre reciclaje y cuidado del medio ambiente mediante una obra de teatro y el libro didáctico “Juguemos el partido del planeta”. A la vez, en el Estadio Monumental se implementan puntos verdes para la correcta segregación de residuos generados durante los partidos de fútbol, promoviendo prácticas responsables a los hinchas.

Niñas en San San Pedro de la Paz beneficiarias de libro “Juguemos el partido del planeta”.
Punto Verde en estadio Monumental David Arellano en Gestión de Residuos.
Equipo Fundación Basura segregando latas en punto de acopio en Gestión de residuos en estadio Monumental David Arellano.

De cara a los próximos años, Fundación Basura trabaja para ampliar el alcance de estos modelos y compartir herramientas que permitan replicarlos en más ciudades. La experiencia acumulada demuestra que las iniciativas basura cero impulsan transformaciones ambientales y sociales.

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