Daphne de Leeuw
ISWA International Events Manager
As an International Event Manager and still relatively new to this field, I’m finding my footing in a world where waste management needs to be seen less as a problem and more as a resource in tackling climate change.
Attending IFAT Brasil 2025 in São Paulo was an important event for me – from June 25 to 27, I was included in a lot of learning, collaboration, and coordination, all anchored by a strong regional focus on sustainable waste practices. My primary goals were to deepen my understanding of local challenges, foster connections, and oversee ISWA’s Sustainable Futures Challenge, a pilot activity with a student/YPG focus which I had the pleasure of coordinating.
The two international workshops hosted by RETech (ISWA’s German National Member) brought together perspectives from across Latin America. These sessions offered not only facts and figures but also real-world insights into what solid waste management looks like in countries like Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, and beyond.
What struck me most were the common themes that emerged during these discussions—high transportation costs, the financial constraints municipalities face, and the need to view waste as a resource rather than a burden. Discussions emphasized how low-tech, practical pilot projects could provide significant environmental benefits without overwhelming smaller municipalities. There was a unified call for multi-sector dialogue, capacity building, and—most importantly—action, rather than mere conversation.
Photographs provided by ABREMA, RETech (Karina Iliescu, Ludus), ISWA
Our discussions at IFAT Brasil reinforced the idea that successful waste management is as much about behavioral change and leadership as it is about infrastructure. We delved into topics like behavioral economics, payment models, and the notion that waste management should be treated as a paid service, similar to electricity or water!
At the ISWA sessions on the Orange Stage (June 26), experts shared global insights on tackling organic waste and cutting methane emissions—highlighting real-world innovations and policies that support climate goals. The panel also delved into the circular economy’s role in addressing the growing plastics and textiles challenge, emphasising the need for smart strategies and collaboration to drive meaningful change ahead of COP30.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my time at IFAT Brasil was coordinating the ISWA Sustainable Futures Challenge, held in collaboration with Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) and ABREMA. The challenge required university students from São Paulo and YPGs from the region to design behaviour-change strategies for waste management, utilising a combination of economic incentives and educational outreach.
After a welcoming introduction from Pedro Maranhão (President of ABREMA) and Marc Tijhuis (Managing Director of ISWA), the teams kicked off the challenge on June 25. They were also given the opportunity to listen to expert talks from Wilhelm Winkelmann (Berlin Waste Management) and Lina Razeto (ISWA National Member for Chile). Over the next two days, teams brainstormed, developed presentations, and refined their pitches. On June 27, they delivered their final proposals in front of a live audience at the ABREMA booth on the IFAT show floor.
Photographs provided by ABREMA, RETech (Karina Iliescu, Ludus), ISWA
Despite minor hiccups, the experience showcased the creativity and adaptability of this next generation. FGV has even decided to continue collaborating with the class to further develop the winning project, demonstrating that these ideas have real potential to drive change.
I walked away not only with new knowledge but also with a better connection to the people, cultures, and energy driving waste management innovation in Latin America. I am especially proud of how the Sustainable Futures Challenge unfolded.
To everyone I met, listened to, and worked with—thank you!
