Promoting a circular economy in the Caribbean

Context

Waste volumes in the Caribbean are rising as a result of population growth, consumption patterns and tourism. Every day, 145,000 tonnes of waste are sent to landfill, including 17,000 tonnes of plastic. The recycling rate is just four per cent. Organic waste causes methane emissions and plastic pollutes the environment.

Industrial recycling facilities are rarely commercially viable, as they cannot be operated on a large scale. There is also a lack of financial resources for environmentally friendly solutions. In the absence of political strategies and suitable framework conditions, the circular economy is stagnating. The waste problem is having an adverse impact on both the local population’s quality of life and on tourism.

Objective

State and non-state decision-makers are better positioned to implement a climate-sensitive circular economy in the Caribbean.

Approach

The Advancing the Circular Economy Facility (ACE Facility) is supported by the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) and financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW. The facility paves the way for projects in the Caribbean that promote a circular economy.

The project supports state and non-state organisations in developing funding applications under the ACE Facility. Training, advisory services and dialogue enable the organisations to enhance their technical and strategic expertise.

In addition, the project encourages the establishment of links between the private sector, municipalities and environmental authorities. Workshops, pilot projects and policy advisory services help to close material cycles and establish system solutions. The project’s awareness-raising measures embed circular economy principles, encourage initiative and accelerate innovative waste management approaches. These measures include management training, public information campaigns and practical examples of best practice.

Last update: March 2025