USD 15 million initiative to boost recycling and waste management in nine countries

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) have announced a partnership to tackle the escalating plastic waste crisis in Asia, focusing on enhancing waste management systems, promoting recycling, and reducing plastic leakage into the environment. This collaboration comes as Asia faces significant environmental challenges, including rapid urbanization, an increasing reliance on single-use plastics, and underdeveloped waste management infrastructure.

Asia is home to 16 of the top 20 rivers contributing to plastic pollution in the oceans, with the region responsible for over two-thirds of the global plastic waste entering the sea. In response to this pressing issue, UNDP and TCCF are scaling up efforts across nine countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Maldives, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam—backed by a USD 15 million grant from TCCF.

The three-year program, launched in India, will focus on developing innovative waste collection models, promoting recycling, and driving policy changes to reduce single-use plastics. By sharing best practices and fostering regional collaboration, the initiative aims to improve waste management systems, reduce plastic waste leakage, and create better livelihoods for waste workers.

“Across Asia, countries are embracing the circular economy to combat plastic waste. With this initiative, we are not only addressing the immediate issue of plastic pollution but also helping to build sustainable, long-term solutions for the region,” said Christophe Bahuet, UNDP Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.

Carlos Pagoaga, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation, emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “This partnership will strengthen recycling infrastructure and improve collection methods, helping to reduce plastic waste and improve local communities and the broader environment.”

This program marks a significant step in advancing environmental sustainability in Asia, providing a model for other regions to follow in the fight against plastic pollution