Global Coalition Seeks Priority Funding For Recycling To Mitigate Climate Change
30 September 2009, Quezon City, Philippines; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Berkeley, USA; Brussels,
Belgium*. An international coalition of public interest citizens’ groups has
issued fresh calls for a new financial mechanism that will support recycling as
priority climate change mitigation.
The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
(GAIA), comprising of over 635 members from 88 countries, urged governments to
formally back waste prevention, reduction, reuse, recycling and composting
programs, otherwise known as Zero Waste, as priorities for mitigation funds.
Informal sector recyclers, or wastepickers, already provide a valuable service
in much of the world. The new climate deal should provide financial support to
expand their efforts.
Groups around the world are joining to push for Zero Waste
as a climate-friendly choice over waste disposal technologies such as landfills
and incinerators, including “waste to energy”, plasma, gasification, and cement
kiln incineration.
GAIA and GAIA member organizations made the common
plea in conjunction with this year’s “Global Day of Action against Waste and
Incineration,” which coincides with the UN-sponsored talks on climate change
that commenced 28 September 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand.
”Zero Waste has significant climate benefits by
conserving resources, saving energy, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions,”
said Manny Calonzo, GAIA's International Co-Coordinator. “At the same time,
zero waste creates jobs and strengthens economies.”
A newly-released report by the US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) finds that 42 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are
influenced by materials management policies. The report cites significant
emissions cuts with waste reduction, recycling and improved product design.
The report “Opportunities to Reduce Greenhouse Gas
Emissions through
Reducing U.S. product packaging by half could result in
as much as 105 million tons of CO2 equivalent per year.
"As negotiators gather in Bangkok, we urge them
not to be deceived into accepting landfill and incineration ‘waste-to-energy’
schemes as green energy or resource recovery initiatives,” said Neil Tangri,
GAIA’s Waste and Climate Campaign Director.
Landfill gas-to-energy projects, refuse derived fuel
projects and other
Investments in landfill and “waste-to-energy” disposal
technologies also threaten the informal recycling economy, particularly waste
pickers.
Climate subsidies for waste disposal projects are
already depriving people of recycling livelihoods.
“Instead of rushing to please big business, the new
climate deal that we hope will be formalized in Copenhagen in December should
create a new financing mechanism that will support the waste pickers’ efforts
to protect and formalize their recycling activities,” Tangri added.
GAIA and GAIA member organizations expressed hope that
governments will agree to their call to “stop trashing the climate,” support
“Zero Waste for Zero Warming” and focus mitigation funds in the waste sector on
recycling and resource recovery projects, excluding landfills and incinerators.
For more information, please contact:
GAIA Waste and Climate Campaign Director - Neil Tangri
+66886485164 (currently in Thailand)
GAIA in Manila - Manny Calonzo or Gigie Cruz + 63 2
4364733
Spanish Speaking Countries - Cecilia Allen +54 11
45426429
GAIA in Europe - Joan Marc Simon +32486832576
