The Role and Scope of Municipalities in Preventing and Reducing Single-use Plastics: Learning from International Experiences

Background

Municipalities and cities worldwide are overwhelmed by the challenges and costs associated with sound management of plastic waste. In most cases, they have been focusing on improving the lower levels of the waste hierarchy, particularly collection, sorting, recycling, energy recovery and landfilling. Of course, proper implementation of the downstream waste management measures is essential. However, municipalities and cities still stand against the daunting task of curbing increasing waste volumes, littering and high environmental impact of short-lived plastics. 

Municipalities and cities can be a driver for change and innovation for reducing single-use plastics. In the international arena, many municipalities are experimenting with innovative measures, projects, and solutions to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable packaging solutions. By moving the efforts up in the waste hierarchy and implementing supporting measures for plastic waste reduction and reusable alternatives, many municipalities and cities worldwide have stories to share on their journey – stories of challenges and successes. 

This episode of the dialogue series will provide a platform to share experiences of municipalities and cities in implementing measures and solutions for successfully reducing plastic waste, and the opportunity to gain knowledge and learn from partners across the borders on plastic waste reduction in municipalities and cities.

The dialogue series is part of the project “Collaborative Action to Reduce Single-Use Plastic in South-East Asia (CAP SEA)”, which is part of a global project “Export Initiative for Green Technologies” commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and consumer Protection (BMUV).

Listen to the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GckEyINSvF8