United Nations Environment Programme
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Zero Waste in the Caribbean: New ways, new waves
- Background
- Project
- Objectives
- Where
- News and events
Waste management is a significant challenge for any society since all natural processes generate waste. It is crucial since it mitigates public health risks, contributes to sustained economic activity, and enhances general welfare. In several Caribbean countries, both upstream waste collection and downstream waste disposal present significant financial, environmental, and public health challenges. The region also faces increasing waste production, but the need for more data limits comprehensive waste profiling. However, waste characterization studies suggest that organic waste is the predominant waste stream with a growing volume of plastics. Plastics have made their way into the marine environment, posing a threat to human health and the tourism sector on which many island economies depend.
Despite developing national and municipal level policies, many states are challenged with fragmented overarching policy frameworks where guidance on various aspects of the waste management process is found under policy instruments across a broad spectrum of legislative areas. Waste-related policy guidance is commonly found within legislation related to public health, marine and coastal management, hazardous substance management, tourism, and trade. In addition, the institutional arrangements in the region are as varied as the waste-related policy and legal frameworks, with responsibilities shared among different actors across government ministries and departments.
In this scenario, integrated solid waste management through a circular economy approach has been identified by CARIFORUM Member States as a priority for the region. Therefore, the Zero Waste in the Caribbean initiative, under the theme New Ways, New Waves, will support strengthening national legislative frameworks and establishing a regional policy structure to support sub-regional and Caribbean-wide action. In addition, the move will help pilot innovative technologies and methodologies to support the operational elements of waste treatment and recovery in the region. Finally, the action will add value to the visibility and communication efforts of the EU-CARIFORUM partnership in developing sustainable and environmentally sound development across the Caribbean.
Funded by the European Union in collaboration with CARIFORUM, with co-financing from the German Cooperation, the project Zero Waste in the Caribbean is jointly implemented by the UN Environment Programme, the German Agency for International Cooperation GmbH (GIZ), and the French Development Agency (AFD), in partnership with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
The project supports the effective and sustainable management of solid waste in the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) countries, based on the overall objective to strengthen the EU-Caribbean partnership for cooperation in the field of circular economy in general and solid waste management, in particular. Therefore, this Zero Waste initiative gives visibility to the efforts of the EU-CARIFORUM partnership and communicates relevant and timely messages to the public and stakeholders about sustainable and environmentally friendly development.
Between 2022 and 2026, this project seeks to better align solid waste management systems in Caribbean countries with the principles of the circular economy and Nationally Determined Contributions and thus make them better able to attract investment and therefore support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, especially SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production; SDG 5 – Gender Equality; SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation; SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG 13 – Climate Action; SDG 14 – Life Below Water; and SDG 15 – Life on Land.
Our partners
- EUROPEAN UNION. More information at www.european-union.europa.eu
- CARIFORUM (the Caribbean Forum) More information at www.caricom.org
- GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit). More information at www.giz.de
- AFD (Agence Française de Développement). More information at www.afd.fr
- OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) More information at www.oecs.org
Our offices
- Caribbean Sub-Regional Office, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
14-20 Port Royal Street, Kingston, Jamaica, Telephone: +1-876-922-9267
- Latin America and the Caribbean Office, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
16-17 P.H. Fortune Plaza, Calle 60 Este, Panama City, Panama, Telephone: +507 305 3100
For any enquire please contact us at unep-zerowaste-caribbean@un.org
Zero Waste in the Caribbean: New Ways, New Waves
The specific objective of the Zero Waste in the Caribbean project is to better align Solid Waste Management (SWM) systems in Caribbean countries with circular economy principles, and Nationally Determined Contributions to improve the resource efficiency of Caribbean economies and to attract possible investments while aligning with the philosophy and approach of the European Green Deal. The project aims to achieve the following four main outputs:
- Developing robust SWM legal and strategic frameworks in the context of promoting a circular economy for the region.
- Enhancing capacity for sustainable consumption and sustainable waste management in targeted areas.
- Defining and facilitating investment opportunities in the solid waste sector.
- Increasing awareness of the EU-CARIFORUM partnership by Caribbean institutions and citizens, including in the SWM and circular economy field.
UNEP has overall responsibility in guiding the Action and mainly concentrates on the Output 1, strengthening the region’s legal, policy and strategic framework related to SWM. The AFD and GIZ provide their expertise in managing the implementation of technical interventions in the area of SWM under Output 2 and 3: defining and consolidating options for possible public or private investments in the area of SWM in the Caribbean.
The geographical scope of the project “Zero Waste in the Caribbean” project is focused on the CARIFORUM member States: Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
Happening now:
From June 5th to September 30, 2023
Where: Kingston, Jamaica
Link: https://www.unep.org/events/unep-event/wed-2023-jamaica-beat-plastic-pollution
As leaders of the future, young people have a major part to play in beating plastic pollution, especially when we know that the age group between 15 and 24 years totals more than 20% of the entire Caribbean population. Youth engagement biodiversity preservation and plastic removal is also crucial since this can contribute to innovative environmental solutions that can nurture societal change in the fight against plastic pollution. Beat Plastic Pollution JA is the UN Jamaica joint project (UNEP, CEP, UNESCO, UNICEF, UN-WOMEN, FAO) in collaboration with “Zero Waste in the Caribbean: New Ways, New Waves” initiative based in Kingston which is intended to highlight student-led plastic pollution initiatives across Jamaica through the following activities:
- Activity1: Schools in Kingston, Jamaica will be invited to produce short videos (30 seconds – 1 minute) creatively highlighting initiatives in schools/communities that actively address plastic pollution or projects they wish to see being implemented.
- Activity 2: On the morning of World Environment Day - June 5, the United Nations Environment Programme will host a roundtable with youth participants on solutions to plastic pollution. The event will be an opportunity to commemorate World Environment Day 2023.
- Activity 3: For the commemoration of Ocean Day 2023 – June 8, during the National Environmental Awareness Week (NEAW) there will be ocean awareness activities geared towards early childhood students that will take place at the Natural History Museum in Jamaica
- Activity 4: In September, using the submitted pitch as a launch-pad, experts will share relevant scientific knowledge and encourage students to continue exploring topics related to plastic pollution and environmental protection while providing resources and insights to strengthen their projects. It will also be a unique opportunity for students to ask questions and share their perspectives and for partners to learn more about how young people experience these issues and their solutions to them.
About International Day of Zero Waste
The International Day of Zero Waste aims to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, support the societal shift towards circularity and raise awareness about how zero-waste initiatives contribute to the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The waste sector contributes significantly to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity and nature loss, and pollution. Humanity generates an estimated 2.24 billion tons of municipal solid waste annually, of which only 55 per cent is managed in controlled facilities. Every year, around 931 million tons of food is lost or wasted and up to 14 million tons of plastic waste enters aquatic ecosystems.
Zero-waste initiatives can foster sound waste management and minimize and prevent waste, helping to address the triple planetary crisis, protect the environment, enhance food security and improve human health and well-being.
When: 30 March 2023
Where: Worldwide
More information: https://www.unep.org/events/un-day/international-day-zero-waste-2023
Revisit past events:
30 March 2023 - Online event
The Road to Circularity and Zero Waste: Global Agreement on Ending Plastic Pollution - Resolution UNEA 5/14
18 - 20 April 2023 - Belize
Towards zero waste through new circular economy policies: Central America and Caribbean regional technical exchange
