Over 300 attendees from local governments, national governments, private sector, academe, non-profits, and civil society organizations on 26 September 2024 gathered together in a virtual panel discussion to discuss how cities in Southeast Asia are leading the way in the creation of local circular policies and actions that foster inclusive sustainable development for both human and natural systems.
Titled “Beyond the bin: Circular solutions for urban waste in Southeast Asian cities” and organized by ICLEI Southeast Asia for the Daring Cities 2024 Virtual Forum series, the online event showcased the best practices of Southeast Asian local governments in addressing urban waste, showing that solutions can go beyond mere waste management.
The panel discussion included Thea Camiring-Mabiasan, Engineer II, Traffic and Transportation Management Division – Baguio City Engineering Office, Philippines; Andrea Villaroman, Head of the Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department – Quezon City, Philippines; Allendri Angeles, Officer-in-Charge of the City Environment and Natural Resources – Pasig City, Philippines; and Muhamad Haris, Head of the Environmental Performance Control Program Indicators Division – Bogor City Environmental Agency, Indonesia. Ahmad Zabri bin Mohamed Sarajudin, Director of Urban Services Department – Seberang Perai, Malaysia, shared the city’s circularity insights via a recorded video.
The panel was moderated by Mae Valdez-Irong, Regional Program Manager of ICLEI Southeast Asia.
A snapshot of the global waste stream and local circularity efforts
The average person generates over 370 kilograms of waste each year, with cities worldwide producing over 7-10 billion tonnes of waste annually. As cities continue to grow, worldwide waste is expected to keep on ballooning if the local development paradigm continues on the linear take-make-waste trajectory. The consequences of these business-as-usual practices—including vulnerability to systemic shocks such as COVID-19, resource scarcity, ecosystem pollution, economic stagnation, disease, greenhouse gas emissions—stand to worsen poverty, widen social exclusion, and exacerbate the climate emergency.
Efforts towards a circular economy (CE) transition seek to address this waste problem through efficient resource use, waste minimization, and holistic solutions that weave industries and sectors together.
In its video presentation, Seberang Perai shared its various circularity efforts, including the 8R Smart Consumption Model for its various waste-related programs and activities; use of Economical Food Waste Composter (EFWC) machines; and its Upcycle Park, a recreational public space where disposed items were turned into decorative and functional park fixtures.
Seberang Perai said that its culture of conservation is reinforced or strengthened by such models and infrastructure that serves as visible and functional reminders of its commitment to circularity.
Mae Valdez-Irong, Regional Program Manager of ICLEI Southeast Asia (top right) and Thea Camiring-Mabiasan, Engineer II, Traffic and Transportation Management Division – Baguio City Engineering Office, Philippines (bottom right)
For Baguio City, circularity is evident in its approach to its transport system. Some initiatives, such as the Smart Urban Mobility project, Green and Blue Walks Project, and Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) which includes the modernization of traditional public transport vehicles into more eco-friendly, electric ones, focused on making roads safer, making the environment in the city cleaner, and improving its transport system by promoting active and green mobility. Baguio’s efforts connects to circular economy because both decarbonization and circular economy aim for the same outcome: to reduce carbon emissions for a livable world and a healthier future.
Andrea Villaroman, Head of the Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department – Quezon City, Philippines (left)
Quezon City is another example of how local governments can address plastic waste by implementing a multi-faceted approach, strengthened by both firm local policies and innovative programs. The city’s initiatives, such as its Trash to Cashback and Kuha sa Tingi programs, harmonize efforts that do not just target waste, but also education, community involvement, livelihood, and even food security. Their best practices show that collaboration or partnerships, with the leadership of the local government, are key to getting diverse stakeholders on board.
Allendri Angeles, Officer-in-Charge of the City Environment and Natural Resources – Pasig City, Philippines (left)
Pasig City’s efforts are guided by the 10-R Strategies of Circular Economy model: Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, Recycle, and Recover. For each “R,” the city has diverse and multiple programs, projects, and policies that work together, addressing not just waste, but most prominently, livelihood as well. Skilled workers, from weavers to repair technicians, and different members of the community are involved in the city’s initiatives that aim to show that waste can still be valuable. With its partners, the city also supports small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs in capacity-building, aimed at developing circular economy-inclined ideas.
Muhamad Haris, Head of the Environmental Performance Control Program Indicators Division – Bogor City Environmental Agency, Indonesia (left)
Meanwhile, the adoption and long-term sustainability of Bogor City’s circular economy efforts relies on the community. The city employs a community-based approach to waste management, and this includes collaborating with organizations to mobilize, train, incentivize, and support different groups in the community such as local businesses and community organizations to lead and be involved in the city’s efforts. The city focuses on community engagement in education about waste management practices, ensuring that waste management becomes a habit in the community. Policy support and infrastructure development were also key components to effective waste management that also considers carbon emissions.
To effectively address urban waste challenges, cities must widen their ideas and go beyond simply dealing with the end product, which means considering the whole life cycle of a resource or material. Most importantly, the best practices highlighted the need for collaborative action among multiple levels of governance, different offices within a local government, and of course, diverse groups of stakeholders in our communities.
Created by ICLEI and the Federal City of Bonn, Germany, Daring Cities is an action-oriented initiative to recognize and empower courageous urban leaders—including mayors and other decision-makers, technical staff, researchers, private sector representatives, and community organizers—to disrupt business-as-usual and shift towards business-as-possible. This year’s iteration carried the theme “Powering collective action to respond to the climate emergency.”
The Daring Cities Virtual Forum is dedicated to exploring interconnected factors within urban policies to ensure comprehensive climate outcomes for society and the planet.
A replay of “Beyond the bin: Circular solutions for urban waste in Southeast Asian cities”, together with other Daring Cities Virtual Forum videos, is available on the official Daring Cities YouTube channel via https://youtu.be/8M6bsPAAsdI?si=lJ8u64GAoJx6YGqp.
Co-written by Jameela Antoniette Mendoza
