Regional Cooperation Program: Reduction of methane emissions from organic waste and closure of landfills in LAC

In response to the mandate of the Special Session of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (Rio de Janeiro, 2024), this Regional Cooperation Program seeks to urgently and significantly reduce methane emissions from the waste sector, as well as move towards the progressive closure of landfills in the region.

This is a regional challenge that requires concerted action: currently, 45% of municipal waste is not managed properly, and more than 10,000 active open dumps emit methane uncontrollably, posing a risk to human health and the environment. Although organic waste represents 50% of the total, less than 3% is recycled.

The Program proposes a shared vision: by 2040, the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean will have significantly reduced methane emissions from the waste sector, avoided the disposal of organic waste in landfills, and closed open dumps.

To achieve this, the Program promotes integrated solutions throughout the entire waste management chain, with a menu of interventions ranging from prevention (upstream), through recovery (midstream), to the improvement of final disposal infrastructure (downstream).

Three priority areas of intervention have been defined: 1) Strengthening legal frameworks and their application; 2) Improving institutional and operational capacities, including MRV systems; 3) Mobilizing financing for methane mitigation and landfill closure.

The Program promotes cooperative activities focused on knowledge exchange, the promotion of best practices, the development of joint initiatives, and shared access to technical assistance and financial resources. It also includes an implementation strategy to facilitate its adoption at the national and subnational levels.

This document was prepared within the framework of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean , through the Voluntary Coalition for the Progressive Closure of Landfills in Latin America and the Caribbean. The development of the Program was facilitated by the UNEP Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, with technical support from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).