The ICLEI South America Delegation shares experiences in circular economy and waste management at the Zero Waste Forum.

Last week, between June 5th and 6th, ICLEI South America participated in the Zero Waste Forum in Istanbul. The forum promoted a space for debate on the role of zero-waste strategies as concrete instruments of climate action on the path to global sustainable urban development, bringing together national and local governments, international organizations, the private sector, academia, and society.civil.

ICLEI South America organized a delegation composed of local governments from the region, represented in Brazil by Cubatão, Campinas, Florianópolis, and Santos; in Ecuador by Quito and CONGOPE; in Peru by Lima; and in Chile by Vitacura. The delegation's presence reinforced the leading role of South American cities at the center of the global debate on the transition to a sustainable circular economy.

South American cities share solutions for the zero waste agenda.

The program for the first day (5) included the participation of the cities of Florianópolis (BRA) and Quito (EC) in two sessions focused on presenting local initiatives linked to the commitment to zero waste, demonstrating how public policies can transform goals into concrete results.

Topázio Neto, the mayor of Florianópolis, presented the city as one of the leading Brazilian references in the waste management agenda, highlighting the "Zero Waste Capital" program, which promotes the composting of organic waste and the inclusion of local cooperatives and businesses in the waste valorization chain. This initiative has helped consolidate Florianópolis as one of the cities that recycles the most in Brazil.

Quito, in turn, demonstrated withTheir initiatives boost the local circular economy, most notably the "Environmental Solid Waste Management Complex," which modernized the city's waste management through infrastructure for recycling, composting, recovery, and controlled final disposal. This initiative contributes to reducing environmental impacts in an efficient and sustainable way.

During the event, the ICLEI Global Secretariat also held an exclusive session for its members, connecting the progress of the waste and circular economy agenda to the developments in global climate action between COP30, held in Belém, and the preparations for COP31. On that occasion, Carlos Cruz-Coke, councilor of Vitacura (CHL), presented the municipality's leading role as one of the most advanced Chilean cities in the transition to a circular economy, highlighting the universal coverage of door-to-door selective collection and waste valorization programs that benefit approximately 30,000 households.

Other experiences of the South American delegation

In addition to the experiences presented in the official sessions, other governments that were part of the ICLEI South America delegation also shared initiatives that demonstrate how sustainable waste management and the circular economy are being incorporated into local development and climate action strategies in different territories of the region.

Cubatão (Brazil)

Cubatão has been making progress in strengthening its integrated solid waste management through the revision of the Municipal Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan. The initiative seeks to expand selective collection, strengthen the inclusion of waste picker cooperatives, promote reverse logistics, and intensify actions to combat marine litter, in line with the environmental recovery trajectory that has made the municipality a national benchmark in environmental resilience.

Campinas (Brazil)

Campinas has been standing out for its valorization of organic waste through the Green Composting Plant, one of the largest initiatives of its kind in Brazil. The project transforms waste from fairs, markets, and other sources into organic compost, contributing to the reduction of waste sent to landfills, the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, and the strengthening of the circular economy. The city is also part of the Integra Resíduos program of the São Paulo State Government, expanding strategies aimed at material recovery and sustainable waste management.

Santos (Brazil)

In Santos, waste management is directly connected to the municipal climate agenda. Through the Recicla Santos and Composta Santos programs, the city promotes selective waste collection, composting of organic waste, environmental education, and the inclusion of recycling cooperatives. These initiatives also contribute to tackling marine pollution and strengthening community engagement around urban sustainability.

CONGOPE – Provincial Government of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (Ecuador)

The Consortium of Autonomous Provincial Governments of Ecuador (CONGOPE) presented initiatives developed by the Provincial Government of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, aimed at promoting environmental education and strengthening a culture of sustainability in partnership with municipalities, educational institutions, and local organizations. The actions encourage waste reduction at the source, responsible consumption, decreased use of disposable plastics, and the strengthening of recycling associations.

Lima (Peru)

Lima has made progress in implementing circular economy solutions through the Recicla Lima program, which encourages waste separation at the source, selective collection, and the valorization of recyclable and organic materials in homes, markets, restaurants, and institutions. The initiative strengthens the participation of formalized recycling associations, expands the composting of organic waste, and contributes to meeting the city's climate goals, which recognize waste management as a key strategy for reducing emissions and promoting urban sustainability.

The experiences shared by the delegation demonstrate that the transition to zero-waste models is already underway in different contexts in South America. Despite local challenges, the participating governments showed that public policies, infrastructure investments, innovation, and community engagement can transform waste management into a strategic tool for climate action, social inclusion, and sustainable development.

From COP30 to COP31: the strategic role of local governments

On the second day of the forum(6), during the high-level meeting with mayors and delegation representatives, held in celebration of Cities Day, Gino Van Begin, Secretary-General of the ICLEI Global Office, highlighted that the transition to zero waste represents one of the most tangible tools for local governments to accelerate the implementation of climate action.

In his message, he emphasized that cities are already leading concrete solutions in areas such as waste management, circular economy, and sustainable food systems, but that they still need greater recognition and access to funding to expand their impact. For the Secretary-General, reducing the gap between local action and global ambition will be fundamental to advancing climate negotiations towards COP31.

By bringing together experiences from different territories and promoting exchange among local leaders, the Zero Waste Forum reinforced the role of cities as protagonists in climate implementation. More than just a space for debate, the meeting highlighted that the zero waste agenda is already producing concrete results and can significantly contribute to accelerating the transition towards more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development models.