Waste & Resource Efficiency

Advancing waste management and stopping plastic leakage to the ocean in South-East Asia

Borealis and SYSTEMIQ have joined forces on a new initiative stop plastic waste leaking into the environment, improve public health and ultimately drive resource efficiency through a circular economy of plastics in South-East Asia. The project aims at creating an improved, sustainable waste management system where not only sufficient collection and sorting facilities are put in place but also off-take markets for recycling are stimulated. 

Achieving this ambition requires a thorough understanding of the interventions needed and the development of tailor-made local solutions connected with global expertise and experience, building capabilities and know-how and deploying the necessary finance. STOP works hand in hand with the local municipalities and environmental agencies to transfer know-how and ensure ownership after the completion of the project. 

Initiated in spring 2017 and publicly launched in October 2017 by Borealis together with SYSTEMIQ, the initiative is funded by the Borealis Social Fund and benefits from technical advice and expertise from a range of expert partners. The first project shall be implemented starting May 2018.

To learn more about the project, watch the video below.

Improving waste management and the lives of waste pickers

Borealis supports Ashoka, an international association that helps social entrepreneurs to realise their innovative ideas for tackling the world’s biggest challenges, including improving waste collection systems in emerging and developing countries.

In many of these countries, existing waste management systems are ineffective. This is often due to rapid growth in consumption as the population rises, coupled with little enforcement of existing laws. The lack of formal systems gives rise to an informal waste sector, where waste pickers comb through dumps for items of value, frequently in conditions that threaten their health and safety.

Albina Ruiz Rios from Peru is one of the social entrepreneurs supported by Ashoka. She helps waste pickers to care for themselves, through her organisation Ciudad Saludable, by providing training, vaccines, health care and safe working clothes for them. Protecting their health allows the waste pickers to focus on being entrepreneurs themselves, improving their living standards.

In Chile, Gonzalo Muñoz and his company Triciclos engage waste pickers in improving recycling. His idea is that the more people benefit from recycling, the more people will recycle. By improving recycling rates, Triciclos reduces the amount of waste going to landfill or into the air or water courses, while giving opportunities for street workers to increase their income and their dignity.