Zero Waste Asia

Three Frontlines, One Fight.

In late 2024 and early 2025, communities near incinerators took matters into their own hands, with air monitors.

🎥 Our mini-documentary Clearing the Air is by them & for them. Premiering July 2: www.youtube.com/@GAIAzerowaste

#BurnNot #ClearingTheAir #GoForZeroWaste

Southeast Asia is home to many thriving reuse refill systems, & is quickly becoming a #ZeroWaste leader. 🌱

Big shoutout to event organizers: Pacific Environment Vietnam, @zerowasteasia.bsky.social, Building Up Sustainability Centre, and the Da Nang Union of Science and Technology Associations. 🎉

This International Waste Pickers Day, we celebrate the contributions of waste pickers and waste workers at the forefront of sustainability.

We stand in solidarity with them and call for a just transition.
Together, we can build a more just and sustainable future.

#GoForZeroWaste #JustTransition

🚨 Victory! IFC/World Bank pulls funding for 4 waste-to-energy incinerators in Gujarat, India!

Thanks to strong community resistance, Abellon lost financing for WTE projects in Rajkot, Vadodara, Ahmedabad & Jamnagar.

👏 A win for clean air & zero waste!

📖 Read more: www.no-burn.org/174-civil-so...

🆕 GAIA delivers an open letter to the INC Bureau calling for "greater accountability, inclusiveness, transparency in the #PlasticsTreaty process."

Busan Was a Major Political Win on Plastic Pollution, Even If Not a Procedural One The political dynamics, narratives, and numbers are conditioned in favor of a strong agreement now.

✊ At INC-5, we won—even if they didn’t lose. The tide has turned, and most are fighting for a treaty that truly tackles plastic pollution. As INC-5.2 nears, ambition must stay strong—no treaty is better than a weak one.

Read more: thediplomat.com/2024/12/busa...

No plastic, no problem A BOLD move by canteen operators to enforce plastic-free practices in five Sabah schools initially drew eye-rolls and resistance.

🌱 No Plastic, No Problem! 🌱

Five Sabah schools cut weekly trash from 250 bags to just 20 with a bold plastic-free canteen policy! 💪🏽🏫 What started as resistance became a zero-waste success.

🔗 Read more: www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/...

#GoForZeroWaste #ZeroWasteOurFuture #BreakFreeFromPlastic

Why Bhopal Remains Toxic 40 Years on 40 years since the tragedy that killed thousands, the Indian government has moved forward plans to incinerate the packaged waste in Bhopal. Aniqah Majid talks to industry experts concerned that this w...

🔥 Bhopal’s toxic tragedy spreads.

Toxic waste was secretly moved to Pithampur near Indore, sparking protests. Burning it risks more harm. Demand real solutions!

📖 Act now: www.thechemicalengineer.com/features/why...

#GoForZeroWaste #BurnNot #BreakFreeFromPlastic

💸 Is waste-to-energy (WTE) worth the cost? Our webinar exposed the financial risks of WTE in Asia Pacific—draining public funds while failing to deliver. From Indonesia to New Zealand, hidden costs and economic threats make WTE unsustainable. Rewatch now: www.facebook.com/share/v/1Bri... #IZWM2025

#INC5 #PlasticsTreaty:
"Among member states, most are in consensus to take tougher actions to curb plastics production with stricter limits."

With quotes from @zerowasteasia.bsky.social's Arpita Bhagat & Aliansi Zero Waste Indonesia's Rahyang Nusantara via Eco-Business.

#INC5 #PlasticsTreaty #Reuse

"The study underscores the need for a strong, legally binding global plastics treaty."
Ambily Adithyan @zerowasteasia.bsky.social

Learn more:
awe.international/article/1897...

#LessPlasticMoreLife #BreakFreeFromPlastic #GoForZeroWaste

Members of the Zero Waste Europe team on a group photo holding reusable items like bread bags, water bottles, food containers, and beverage bottles for the International Zero Waste Month coordinated by GAIA Asia Pacific.

Did you know it takes centuries for the average plastic to break down?

Plastic later turns into persistent microplastics that harm our systems.

We must make reuse the new normal across the globe.

ZWE is joining @zerowasteasia.bsky.social for the International Zero Waste Month. Join us too!

25 years strong! ❤️✊

This year, we're celebrating GAIA’s 25 Years of Movement-Building. This belongs to ALL OF US—our passion, dedication &the impact we’ve made as a network. From grassroots actions to global wins, let's honor what we’ve achieved together.

Happy #GAIA25 to us & happy new year!

It's #InternationalZeroWasteMonth!

This Jan, we’re not just addressing waste but demanding systemic change for an environmentally just future. #IZWM2025 calls on individuals, communities & leaders to tackle the root causes of waste—starting with ending food waste.

#FoodWasteNoMore
bit.ly/IZWM25reg

Tackling Plastic Pollution Needs Regional Cooperation and Stricter Law Enforcement Tackling Plastic Pollution Needs Regional Cooperation and Stricter Law Enforcement

🌊 Plastic Pollution Knows No Borders! Over 15,000 tons of single-use plastic flow through Bangladesh’s rivers daily, threatening marine life & human health. Regional cooperation & stricter enforcement are key!

📘 Read more: www.daily-sun.com/printversion...

#GoForZeroWaste #LessPlasticMoreLife

GAIA is proud to have reviewed Fair Finance Asia’s report, “Towards a Gender-Transformative Energy Transition in Asia.” It highlights gaps in ADB's ETM pilot, including the marginalized groups and warns against false solutions like co-firing and WTE.

Read more: bit.ly/FFAgenderETM

Fiji welcomes progress in the Chair’s Non-Paper at #INC5 but stresses it still falls short of UNEA Resolution 5/14.

🗣️ "We cannot leave Busan with this text. Let’s take the time to refine it and uphold the spirit of multilateralism."

#INC5 #BreakFreeFromPlastic ♻️🌊

🚨 Transparency Under Threat at #INC5 🚨

Only 3% of observers can access critical #PlasticsTreaty sessions due to limited room capacity, undermining transparency and inclusivity. Civil society demands larger rooms, merged spaces, and live-stream options.

It’s time to act!

Registrations to #INC5 closed in Sept & @unep.bsky.social knew that there were 3000 observers registered, and about to go on a long and expensive travel to be there. Yet, rooms for in depth negotiations are tiny. Folks are queuing 1h before start to have hope to get a seat.

This is unacceptable.

🌊 Fiji joins the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution as its 67th member! Ahead of INC-5 in Busan, this boosts the Pacific's call for a bold, legally binding treaty on plastics. 💪♻️ Read more: hactoendplasticpollution.org/hac-member-s... #INC5

Nearly 40 years after the 1984 disaster, toxic waste still poisons Bhopal. Plans to incinerate it at a failing facility risk spreading deadly toxins.
🌍 Safer cleanup methods exist. Bhopal deserves justice, not more contamination.
📢 Learn more: www.no-burn.org/gaia-and-env... #BurnNotBhopal

Treaty a chance to solve plastic crisis Plastic pollution is a massive problem that needs to be solved collectively at the global level.

🌏 A strong #PlasticsTreaty is essential to reduce plastic production, phase out non-essential plastics, and eliminate toxic chemicals.

📖 Read Part 1 of the op-ed by Yam EJF & Penchom EARTH here: www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin...

🌱 Stay tuned for Part 2 and join the call to #BreakFreeFromPlastic!