23 Junio , 2021

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CONTEXT

Latin America and the Caribbean generates 1 kg of waste per capita per day. Waste collection coverage in the region is high compared to the global average. About 85% of waste is collected in urban areas, mostly door to door; however, figures vary considerably between countries, from over 95% in cities in Uruguay and Colombia to only 12% in Port-au-Prince (CEPAL 2020) Organic waste accounts for more than 50% of this total, with a figure of almost 70% in some countries. In rural communities, waste collection coverage is about 30% (CEPAL, 2020). Less than 75% of urban waste was deposited in sanitary landfills and more than 20% went to open dumps (UNEP, 2018). Furthermore, only 4% of solid urban waste is recycled in the region, in contrast to countries where the figure is as high as 20%. These are all characteristic features of an unsustainable development style.

The aim of the circular economy is to preserve the value of materials and products for as long as possible in order to minimize waste and complete their life cycle, in contrast to the dominant paradigm of the linear economy of production-consumption-disposal. Circularity means designing and manufacturing products that have longer lives and can be upgraded, repaired, reused, reconditioned or remanufactured. It also means pursuing policies for ecodesign aimed at using minimal resources, harnessing secondary resources and recycling high-quality materials, while combating programmed obsolescence and standardizing design elements, e.g. by producing universal chargers for electrical appliances.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, the application of the circular economy concept is still incipient.  The European Union (EU) is leading the way in this area and has implemented a programme to become a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy (European Commission, 2019). This will have repercussions in countries with which the EU cooperates closely. Within this framework, there is an opportunity for Latin America and the Caribbean to design and strengthen a circular growth strategy of its own.

To develop the circular economy in the region, it is necessary to modify public policies, regulations, management systems, public finances, investments, financing systems, and capacities in all countries. All stages must be addressed: productive, consumption and final waste disposal.

Most of the initiatives identified in the region are associated with traditional waste management and should have a more comprehensive vision that would allow to address to a greater extent the aspects and sectors that concern the circular economy. Some policies that are in line with a greater insertion of the circular economy include the creation of regulations on the use of inputs throughout the production cycle (efficiency, compatibility, recyclability and others), in which toxic substances are prohibited,and those of little reuse; the strengthening of extended producer responsibility; the promotion of innovation; the awareness of consumers about the impact that their consumption and disposal patterns have on the environment; the stronger introduction of eco-labeling systems; updating consumer laws and promoting the sharing of devices and products; the promotion of investment in waste management systems and the promotion of regional and sub-regional alliances and agreements, such as standards and common labels, which allow to increase the scale and impact of actions, and improve control in ports and customs.

Despite being still incipient, actions related to the circular economy have gained ground in recent years. Indeed, within the framework of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean held in February 2021, the "Circular Economy Coalition of Latin America and the Caribbean" was launched. The circular economy contributes to the global effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 12 on Sustainable Consumption and Production, but also SDG 13 on Climate Action. The circular economy also plays a fundamental role in the goal of carbon neutrality, required by science. It is estimated that while the switch to renewables could reduce emissions by 55%, the remaining 45% could be addressed with the circular economy (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2019).

Indeed, if the waste and recycling sector in Latin America and the Caribbean were developed into a keysector and had a municipal waste recycling rate equivalent to that of Germany, it could contribute to the green economic revival: almost 450,000 stable jobs would be created and the region’s GDP would increase by 0.35% (CEPAL, 2020).

ECLAC, the Presidency of COP25, and the EUROCLIMA + Program will hold the virtual event "Progress towards a circular economy in Latin America and the Caribbean: challenges and opportunities to achieve a more sustainable and low-carbon style of development" with the aim of exploring the progress that Latin America and the Caribbean has made in circular economy and sharing experiences between countries and discussing the main challenges in public policy to move towards a greater insertion of the circular economy.  The event is aimed at the national authorities of Latin America and the Caribbean working in circular economy and the National Focal Points of the EUROCLIMA + Program.

Progress towards a Circular Economy: challenges and opportunities to achieve a more sustainable and low-carbon style of development

Date: Wednesday, 23rd June, 2021

Time: 10:00-12:00 (Santiago), 9:00-11:00 (Panamá and México), 8:00-10:00 (Central America), 16:00-18:00 (Brussels)