Context
Raw materials are becoming ever scarcer. However, only less than 10 per cent of materials are recycled after use, causing the amount of waste to grow. Changing consumer habits, industrial development and growing cities are exacerbating the problem. Waste in many developing countries and emerging economies is not disposed of properly, which harms people, the environment and the climate. Environmental pollution negatively impacts biodiversity and threatens sustainable development worldwide.
The circular economy offers solutions to this.
Objective
Concepts for resource-efficient and climate friendly waste management and the circular economy are integrated into policy processes and measures for development cooperation.
Approach
The project focuses on the following fields of activity:
- Operating the PREVENT Waste Alliance secretariat. The platform enhances international sharing of ideas and cooperation on the circular economy. The aim is that these measures will help to implement and disseminate successful solutions and business models.
- Contributing the positions of German development cooperation regarding the circular economy to national and international political processes.
- Providing guidelines, good practices and tools for urban decision-makers and imparting this information in training courses. Topics include planning and financing waste management systems, business models and economic instruments and the inclusion of climate-related aspects and technologies to reduce greenhouse gases in waste management and the circular economy.
- Developing approaches to reduce the amount of (plastic) marine litter. The project also promotes implementation of measures via forums for sharing ideas and cooperation arrangements. As part of cooperation with the European Commission, the project advises countries in South-East Asia on how to improve disposal of (packaging) waste.
- Implementing measures to provide training and advice with the aim of creating environmentally friendly value chains for e-waste.
Last update: July 2021