Latin America - Reducing methane emissions from organic waste

Rationale

The waste sector accounts for 18% of global methane emissions. An estimated 61% of sector emissions could be avoided by 2030 with full implementation of current landfill gas capture technology.

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) produces significant methane emissions from the waste sector, and LAC countries are seeking mitigation opportunities to support commitments under their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

Latin America has significant potential for methane mitigation as waste streams in the region have, on average over 50% of organic waste. This fraction of the waste stream, if not appropriately managed, will decompose, emitting methane.

In Latin America, a growing number of countries and local governments are starting to make progress in promoting the prevention of food waste and food loss and improving organic waste management, shifting from a reliance on landfilling to advancing the implementation of policies and projects that contribute to sustainable waste management.

Achieving major reductions in methane emissions from the waste sector requires the development of multiple initiatives including minimising food loss and waste, landfill gas destruction projects, as well as organic waste valorisation through processes such as composting or anaerobic digestion among others.

To establish these solutions quickly, and with limited funding, countries will need to start off with those that are most cost efficient and face fewer implementation difficulties. Yet developing, and especially sustaining multiplication and proper operation of projects over time, requires an appropriate policy context. 

Objectives

This project will aims to support three representative LAC countries on accomplishing relevant policy progress while developing relevant knowledge materials for other countries based on the lessons learned and already existing best practices in the region.  

The proposed will work at both the national level to support policy development but also at the local level, supporting the identification and prioritisation of strong, bankable municipal solid waste projects. The project will work directly with building the capacity of three countries in Latin America, as well as developing a guidebook and training materials for broad dissemination of best practices and lessons learned. 

Activities

The project aims to set LAC countries on a clear path towards achieving a 30% mitigation in methane emissions from the waste sector by 2030. Achieving major reductions in methane emissions from the waste sector requires the development of multiple initiatives including minimising food loss and waste, landfill gas destruction projects, as well as organic waste valorisation through processes such as composting or anaerobic digestion, among others. 

It will seek to establish a sustained pipeline of projects targeting actions such as soil regeneration, reduced food consumption footprints, economic development for a circular economy, and the creation of new waste sector business models including the diversification of employment opportunities.

This will include:

• In-country interviews, workshops and site visits.
• Stakeholders interviews with policy makers from the waste, energy and agriculture sectors, local level authorities, waste management companies, waste pickers, investors, banks, technology and service providers, NGOs and research and innovation centres. 
• A draft ranking of projects and policies for each country aiming to provide decision makers with an economic and technical analysis of a project portfolio ranked in relation to the economic and technical feasibility, mitigation potential, social and development impact, among others.  
• The project rankings will be validated by the focal points from each country and an investment plan will be developed with the objective of guiding the planning, financing and implementation processes to ensure the construction of these initiatives is aligned with the timing for achieving the mitigation targets of the country. 
•  Final versions of investment plans, policy packages and the Methane Mitigation Projects and Policy (MMPP) guidebook will be produced: 
•  Provide capacity building for implementation and sharing of the MMPP guidebook and project results. Monitoring reporting and verification guidelines will also be shared with local stakeholders to contribute to the proper accounting and follow up. 
  
  
  Project reference [WST-22-002] Latin America - Reducing methane emissions from organic waste