Saaiqa Merali
Communications Manager, ISWA
Plastic waste remains a complicated environmental challenge, and at COP29, the Azerbaijan Pavilion hosted an inspiring session exploring innovative solutions. This session, attended by national ministers and international leaders from the private sector, pointed out diverse approaches to managing plastic waste and its critical role in climate action.
Opening the discussion, H.E. Rauf Hajiyev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources for Azerbaijan, noted the integral role of scientific research in crafting sustainable waste management solutions. His remarks set the stage for a conversation grounded in evidence-based approaches.
Addressing Plastic’s Complexity: Examples from Kazakhstan and the Philippines
Mansur Oshurbayev, Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, shared his country’s impressive progress with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), highlighting a system they’ve successfully implemented for more than seven years on a national level. Under EPR, taxes collected from producers are reinvested into waste management infrastructure, environmentally friendly transport, and projects that enhance the standard of living and stimulate economic growth. Mansur emphasised that addressing plastic waste isn’t just about environmental benefits but also about boosting national resilience and prosperity.
Sunniya Durrani-Jamal, Country Director of the Asian Development Bank, delved into the challenges of managing plastic waste, noting its longevity in the environment and the difficulties of tracking its lifecycle. She shared lessons from the Philippines, where waste pickers were integrated into formal systems, earning better incomes while contributing to waste collection. However, economic instability—such as a lack of funds for fuel—highlighted the fragility of these systems and the need for robust financial frameworks.
Rana Mammadova from Coca-Cola Azerbaijan stressed the importance of the circular economy, where materials are continuously returned to the supply chain. She pointed to EPR as a key mechanism to assign financial and environmental responsibility to producers. Rana called for frameworks that not only regulate but also attract investment to improve EPR systems and foster sustainable development.
Collaboration and Innovation: ISWA’s Perspective
Representing ISWA, James Law emphasized the power of collaboration between governments, organizations, and academic institutions. James highlighted a number of ISWA’s interventions as an active contributor on several levels as evidence of the Association’s commitment to tackling plastic waste. The CLOCC project, for example, is an initiative that advocates for preventing and reducing marine litter and plastic pollution through integrated solid waste management systems, with improved municipal solid waste collection and increased recycling of suitable materials.
Another example is the research of ISWA’s Winter School host, Prof. Sahadat Hossain’s study on using recycled plastic to reinforce infrastructure. This innovative approach demonstrates how plastic waste can be transformed into valuable resources for sustainability. On an institutional level, ISWA has been actively involved in the INC process to develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution by following the sessions of the intergovernmental negotiating committee that will define the structure and instruments of the treaty. Carlos Silva Filho, ISWA’s former President was at the time headed to Busan, to represent ISWA in the 5th Session of the INC meeting.
By comparing projects like the Philippines’ waste picker initiative with local efforts such as those of ISWA’s Ambassador in Azerbaijan, EkoSfera, the session highlighted the need for adaptable solutions tailored to national contexts.
Plastic waste management is not just an environmental issue—it is a critical component of global climate action. Events like these at COP29 provide a platform for exchanging ideas, fostering innovation, and inspiring change.
EkoSfera’s Zero Waste Vision
The Azerbaijani National NGO Forum Pavilion in the Green Zone invited ISWA to the unveiling of the “EcoSfera” Ecotracker, a mobile application promoting zero waste and sustainable lifestyles in Azerbaijan. The app aims to foster eco-conscious habits through technology and social media.
Firuza Sultan-zadeh, Chairperson of EkoSfera, explained that the app will monitor users’ daily behaviours and encourage them to adopt more sustainable practices. Aditi Ramola, Technical Director of ISWA, highlighted the importance of waste sorting as a cornerstone of sustainable behaviour. She emphasized how waste management practices not only solve environmental issues but also instil eco-friendly habits in younger generations and their families.
“The best kind of waste is the kind you don’t produce. For the waste that we have already created and continue to create, integrated management systems in both local and global contexts have to be at the fore of all our conversations and actions.”
ISWA’s presence at COP29 has been one of many successes and learnings. From participating in a single session at COP26 in Glasgow to being at the High-Level Launch of a Declaration at this year’s COP – we’ve come a long way and can celebrate big wins for the waste and resource management sector.
