Summary
This case study from October 2023 outlines USAID's initiative, Clean Cities, Blue Ocean, aimed at improving solid waste management to mitigate climate change impacts through reducing GHG emissions and preventing ocean plastic pollution in coastal communities.
Content
Improved waste management and recycling systems have the potential to prevent ocean plastic pollution but also significantly reduce GHG emissions and mitigate climate change. USAID Clean Cities, Blue Ocean—the Agency’s global flagship program under the Save our Seas Initiative—is piloting new approaches to strengthen local solid waste management systems that also help cities reduce their waste-related GHG emissions.
Through this report, the program is documenting how specific, relatively low-cost improvements like remediating open dumpsites, building system efficiencies across the solid waste management system, and increasing plastic waste recovery rates can support countries’ ability to meet their climate targets and be more resilient to climate change.