Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA)

By Princess Kemdi Chika-Okafor 

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I have always believed true circularity isn’t just about fixing what breaks at the end of the disposal process; it means rethinking and redesigning our systems from the start.

This was exactly what the Africa Zero Waste Academy was about: rethinking and redesigning our waste systems. As a participant in both the virtual and in-person components of the second edition of the Africa Zero Waste Academy 2026, hosted by GAIA and GAYO in Ghana, I carry away much more than technical blueprints. I am leaving with a renewed understanding of what it takes to build a waste-free continent: a strong combination of technical innovation, strategic storytelling, and grassroots climate justice.

In Kpong, in Ghana’s Eastern Region, our days flowed seamlessly from theory to hands-on practice. In one session, we upcycled discarded textiles into tote bags that served as a tangible reminder of everyday circularity, while strategic advocacy sessions encouraged us to refine our messaging for maximum policy impact.

Pitching the Century 21 Foundation’s capstone proposal to decentralise solar-hybrid cold chains across Africa demonstrated that our local solutions are ready for immediate scaling. By connecting off-grid cold storage with organic waste diversion, we can preserve fresh produce, protect farmers’ livelihoods, and build long-term climate resilience.

Back in Accra, seeing these concepts in real-world operations brought them to life. At the Kpone landfill site, we witnessed an old waste dump being transformed into a sustainable green zone using ClosureTurf technology. A later tour of the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP) showcased how large-scale recycling drives the economy, creates green jobs, and supports circularity.

However, the most emotionally impactful moment came on July 31 with the historic launch of the Federation of Informal Sector Waste Workers Associations of Ghana (FISWWAG). Watching informal waste pickers—the unsung heroes who keep tons of waste out of landfills—unite across 16 regions for formal policy recognition was a powerful reminder that true zero waste cannot exist without social justice.

Beyond lectures and field visits, the Academy’s heart lay in the connections we built. Sharing traditional attire, local dishes, and personal stories during our cultural night revealed that, despite our regional challenges, we all share a vision for a resilient Africa. From long bus rides filled with music to intense group debates, we forged an extraordinary network of lifelong allies across the continent. Now, the focus shifts to execution.

For the Century 21 Foundation, our next phase centres on documentary-style storytelling to highlight frontline market women known as (Iya Ojas) in our local parlance, expand source-separation models, and scale our One Plate, One Nation community feeding initiative. With strategic insights, blended finance blueprints, and cross-sector partnerships, we are ready to turn our proposals into tangible impact. 

The future of Africa is green, circular, and already underway.

Writer’s Bio

Princess Kemdi Chika-Okafor is a social entrepreneur and development economist dedicated to solving Africa’s leading agricultural challenge, the dramatic rise in post-harvest food waste and nutritional poverty. As the Founder and Executive Director of the Century 21 Foundation, she is globally recognised as a pioneering thought leader in Afro-Nutrition Sovereignty, championing tech-enabled, self-sustaining circular food economies that move beyond traditional short-term charity.

The post My Chronicles of the Africa Zero Waste Academy 2026: Princess Kemdi first appeared on GAIA.

August, 2026.

The undersigned organizations, which have been monitoring the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations since 2022, wish to express our deep concern and alert the public to the following facts:

Since the beginning of 2026, only so-called “informal” meetings have been taking place between heads of government delegations, and according to available official information, these modality of meetings will continue to be held to address the fundamental issues for negotiating the Global Plastics Treaty. These meetings are conducted behind closed doors and in confidence, without access for observer organizations, which severely limits the transparency of the process and prevents informed participation by civil society. This situation creates a worrying lack of transparency surrounding key discussions for the future of the treaty and marginalizes the voices of civil society organizations that defend the public interest.

The situation is such that during this year it has been impossible for us to fully exercise this role due to the working modality adopted by the chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), Ambassador Julio Cordano.

While heads of delegations hold meetings to address the substantive aspects of the negotiations, observer organizations have been relegated to virtual meetings with the INC presidency. During these sessions, the only available interaction mechanism is a chat, which is clearly insufficient to foster genuine dialogue. These virtual spaces neither substitute for nor can replace direct interaction between observer organizations and government delegations, which is an essential component for ensuring effective and meaningful participation in the negotiation process.

This format of online meetings with the INC presidency only allows us to learn general guidelines and organizational aspects of the process, information that is largely already public and does not offer real opportunities to exchange perspectives with national delegations, present evidence and recommendations during substantive discussions, or contribute to strengthening the positions that governments bring to the negotiating table.

We firmly believe that the participation of observer organizations cannot be limited to receiving information about decisions already taken or about the planning of the process. Meaningful participation requires access to spaces where the contents of the treaty are discussed and the possibility of dialogue directly with government delegations before and during the definition of their positions. Excluding civil society organizations from these bodies reduces the transparency of the process and weakens the principles of participation and accountability that should guide the construction of a global treaty of this relevance.

We denounce this practice as contrary to the principles and standards of environmental democracy, which in our region are enshrined in the Escazú Agreement, particularly regarding access to information, public participation, and transparency in environmental matters. These principles require that decision-making processes be conducted with openness, timeliness, and effective participation of stakeholders.

Therefore, it is legally paradoxical that the president of the INC, who was a promoter of the Escazú Agreement in the region, adopts working methods that do not conform to the principle of progressivity, recognized in international environmental law as an obligation to advance in a sustained manner in the expansion and strengthening of access rights.

In this regard, the implementation of closed spaces and the restriction of substantive interaction between observer organizations and government delegations constitute a clear regression in the standards of participation previously achieved in the negotiation process itself, weakening the minimum democratic guarantees that should govern the drafting of an international instrument of this nature. Ultimately, these are implementing procedures that restrict the effective influence of observer organizations.

Even more concerning is the INC president’s request that observer organizations appoint representatives from among our organizations. Implementing this measure will widen the gap between our organizations and government delegations, limit the diversity of voices, and diminish the wealth of scientific, technical, territorial, and public policy contributions that our organizations directly share with our governments during negotiations.

In this context, civil society organizations working to protect human health, planetary health, ecosystems, and independent science denounce our exclusion from discussion forums that define essential aspects of the treaty. This situation has limited our timely access to the debates, hindered our ability to understand the evolution of government positions, and restricted our capacity to contribute independent scientific evidence, technical expertise, and experiences from territories directly affected by plastic pollution.

Our role as civil society is to accompany the negotiations, understand and analyze the positions of our governments, and contribute to strengthening decision-making through evidence and independent recommendations free from industry conflicts of interest, incorporating the realities of the affected communities and territories and oriented towards the protection of the public interest, human rights, human and planetary health, and ecosystems.

For all the above reasons, we call upon the Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee, Ambassador Julio Cordano, and the Board of Directors of the INC to reestablish mechanisms that guarantee effective, direct and meaningful participation of observer organizations in all stages of the negotiation process.

A global treaty on plastics can only aspire to be legitimate, solid and ambitious if it is built through a transparent, inclusive process that respects the principles of environmental democracy.

Signatories:

Acción Ecológica México, México   

Aliança Resíduo Zero Brasil

Alianza Basura Cero Chile

Alianza Basura Cero Ecuador

AMAR Associação de Defesa do Meio Ambiente

Break Free From Plastic

Centro de tecnologías aplicadas de Argentina

CESTA, Amigos de la Tierra, El Salvador

Coalición Ciudadana Antiincineración, Argentina

Colectivo Ecologista Jalisco, México

Colectivo Tz’unun Ya’ -Guatemala

Colectivo Viento Sur, Chile

El Poder del Consumidor, México

FAS, PANAMA

FUNAM, Argentina

Fundación Agua Clara, Venezuela

Fundación PlastiCo. Project, Ecuador

Alianza Global para Alternativas a la Incineración, GAIA 

Manos Abiertas La Bandada, Argentina

Mingas por el Mar, Ecuador

Organización Ecologista Piuke, Argentina

RADA, Chile

RAPAL, Uruguay

Red Dominicana de Estudios y Empoderamiento Afrodescendiente. República Dominicana

Taller de Comunicación Ambiental, Argentina

Taller Ecologista, Argentina

Toxisphera Associação de Saúde Ambiental, Brasil

The post PUBLIC STATEMENT BYLATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN ORGANIZATIONS ON THE LACK OF PARTICIPATION IN THE 2026 PLASTICS TREATY NEGOTIATIONS first appeared on GAIA.

Agosto, 2026

Las organizaciones firmantes de esta declaración que hemos dado seguimiento a las negociaciones del Tratado Global de Plásticos desde 2022 queremos expresar nuestra profunda preocupación y alertar a la opinión pública sobre los siguientes hechos:

Desde los primeros meses de 2026 se vienen realizando y, de acuerdo con información oficial disponible, continuarán realizándose únicamente reuniones denominadas “informales” entre jefes de delegaciones gubernamentales, en las que se abordan los temas fundamentales para la negociación del Tratado Global de Plásticos. Dichas reuniones se desarrollan de manera cerrada y confidencial y sin acceso para las organizaciones observadoras, lo que limita gravemente la transparencia del proceso e impide una participación informada de la sociedad civil. Esta situación genera una preocupante opacidad en torno a discusiones clave para el futuro del tratado y margina las voces de las organizaciones de la sociedad civil que defendemos el interés público.

La situación es tal, que durante este año nos ha sido imposible ejercer plenamente este rol debido a la modalidad de trabajo adoptada por el presidente del Comité Intergubernamental de Negociación (INC por sus siglas en inglés), embajador Julio Cordano. 

Mientras los jefes de delegación sostienen reuniones para abordar los aspectos sustantivos de la negociación; las organizaciones observadoras hemos sido relegadas a reuniones virtuales con la presidencia del INC. Durante las sesiones, el único mecanismo de interacción disponible es un chat, el cual resulta claramente insuficiente para propiciar un intercambio real. Estos espacios virtuales no sustituyen ni pueden reemplazar la interacción directa entre las organizaciones observadoras y las delegaciones gubernamentales, la cual constituye un componente indispensable para garantizar una participación efectiva y significativa en el proceso de negociación.

Esta modalidad de reuniones en línea con la presidencia del INC solo nos permite conocer orientaciones generales y aspectos organizativos del proceso, información que en gran medida ya es de carácter público y no ofrece oportunidades reales para intercambiar perspectivas con las delegaciones nacionales; presentar evidencia y recomendaciones durante las discusiones sustantivas; ni contribuir al fortalecimiento de las posiciones que los gobiernos llevan a la mesa de negociación.

Creemos firmemente que la participación de las organizaciones observadoras no puede limitarse a recibir información sobre decisiones ya adoptadas o sobre la planificación del proceso. Una participación significativa requiere acceso a espacios donde se discuten los contenidos del tratado y la posibilidad de dialogar directamente con las delegaciones gubernamentales antes y durante la definición de sus posiciones. Excluir a las organizaciones de la sociedad civil de estas instancias, reduce la transparencia del proceso y debilita los principios de participación y rendición de cuentas que deben orientar la construcción de un tratado global de esta relevancia.

Denunciamos que este proceder resulta contrario a los principios y estándares de democracia ambiental, que en nuestra región están consagrados en el Acuerdo de Escazú, particularmente en lo relativo al acceso a la información, la participación pública y la transparencia en asuntos ambientales. Dichos principios exigen que los procesos de toma de decisiones se desarrollen bajo criterios de apertura, oportunidad y participación efectiva de los actores interesados.

Por lo que resulta jurídicamente paradójico que el presidente del INC, quién fue promotor del Acuerdo de Escazú en la región adopte modalidades de trabajo que no se ajustan al principio de progresividad, reconocido en el derecho ambiental internacional como una obligación de avanzar de manera sostenida en la ampliación y fortalecimiento de los derechos de acceso.

En este sentido, la implementación de espacios cerrados y la restricción de la interacción sustantiva entre organizaciones observadoras y delegaciones gubernamentales constituyen una clara regresión en los estándares de participación previamente alcanzados en el propio proceso de negociación, debilitando las garantías mínimas democráticas que deben regir la elaboración de un instrumento internacional de esta naturaleza.  En definitiva, se están implementando modalidades que restringen la incidencia efectiva de las organizaciones observadoras.

Más preocupante aún es que el presidente del INC haya solicitado a las organizaciones observadoras designar representantes únicos entre nuestros integrantes. De implementarse esta medida, se profundizará la distancia entre las organizaciones y las delegaciones gubernamentales, limitaría la diversidad de voces y reduciría la riqueza de los aportes científicos, técnicos, territoriales y de política pública que las organizaciones trasladamos directamente a nuestros gobiernos durante las negociaciones. 

En este contexto, las organizaciones de la sociedad civil que trabajamos por la protección de la salud humana, la salud planetaria, los ecosistemas y la ciencia independiente, denunciamos que hemos sido excluidas de espacios de discusión en los que se definen aspectos esenciales del tratado. Esta situación ha limitado nuestro acceso oportuno a los debates; dificultado conocer la evolución de las posiciones gubernamentales y restringido nuestra posibilidad de aportar evidencia científica independiente, conocimientos técnicos y experiencias de los territorios directamente afectados por la contaminación por plásticos. 

Nuestro papel como sociedad civil es acompañar las negociaciones, conocer y analizar las posiciones de nuestros gobiernos y contribuir a fortalecer la toma de decisiones mediante evidencia y recomendaciones independientes libres de conflictos de interés de la industria, que incorporen las realidades de las comunidades y territorios afectados y estén orientadas a la protección del interés público, los derechos humanos, la salud humana y planetaria y los ecosistemas. 

Por todo lo anterior, hacemos un llamado al presidente del Comité Intergubernamental de Negociación, embajador Julio Cordano, y a la Mesa Directiva del INC para que restablezcan mecanismos que garanticen una participación efectiva, directa y significativa de las organizaciones observadoras en todas las etapas del proceso de negociación. 

Un tratado global sobre los plásticos sólo podrá aspirar a ser legítimo, sólido y ambicioso si se construye mediante un proceso transparente, inclusivo y respetuoso de los principios de la democracia ambiental. 

Firmantes:

Acción Ecológica México, México   

Aliança Resíduo Zero Brasil

Alianza Basura Cero Chile

Alianza Basura Cero Ecuador

AMAR Associação de Defesa do Meio Ambiente

Break Free From Plastic

Centro de tecnologías aplicadas de Argentina

CESTA, Amigos de la Tierra, El Salvador

Coalición Ciudadana Antiincineración, Argentina

Colectivo Ecologista Jalisco, México

Colectivo Tz’unun Ya’ -Guatemala

Colectivo Viento Sur, Chile

El Poder del Consumidor, México

FAS, PANAMA

FUNAM, Argentina

Fundación Agua Clara, Venezuela

Fundación PlastiCo. Project, Ecuador

Alianza Global para Alternativas a la Incineración, GAIA 

Manos Abiertas La Bandada, Argentina

Mingas por el Mar, Ecuador

Organización Ecologista Piuke, Argentina

RADA, Chile

RAPAL, Uruguay

Red Dominicana de Estudios y Empoderamiento Afrodescendiente. República Dominicana

Taller de Comunicación Ambiental, Argentina

Taller Ecologista, Argentina

Toxisphera Associação de Saúde Ambiental, Brasil

The post Organizaciones latinoamericanas y del Caribe ante la inexistencia de espacios de participación en las negociaciones del Tratado de plásticos 2026 first appeared on GAIA.

By Collins Azuike

SEDI Staff retrieving discarded organic waste on a Landfill in Otofure, Edo State

Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI) is committed to promoting sustainable environmental practices, focusing on organic waste management, waste reduction, and soil health. 

The organization works to establish composting facilities, divert organic waste from landfills, and produce nutrient-rich compost as a soil amendment, alongside public awareness campaigns, environmental policy advocacy, and capacity building in local communities. SEDI aims to create a circular economy where waste is turned into a resource.

SEDI is one of the implementing partners of the GAIA-led Multi-Solving Action to Methane Reduction in Nigeria (MAMRN) Project. 

In this article, part of the series on the MAMRN project, we spoke with a Tom Aneni, The Executive Director of SEDI about their work as a partner in Otofure, Edo State, for the project.

In this project, several GAIA members are participating in various activities. Can you share some insights into the best practices for collaboration with other organizations in Nigeria?

Successful collaboration with other organizations, particularly in environmental projects like this one, requires clear communication, shared goals, and mutual respect for each organization’s strengths. Regular meetings and collaborative planning sessions ensure alignment and that everyone is working toward common objectives.

Leveraging local knowledge and expertise is vital, especially when addressing unique community challenges, and a flexible approach to local contexts is crucial for long-term success. Partnerships, like the one with GAIA, benefit from resource-sharing, whether financial, technical, or knowledge-based and create a more impactful project.

Could you share some perspective on the current waste crisis in Nigeria and how this project aims to address this?

Nigeria faces a major waste management crisis, with a significant proportion of organic waste improperly disposed of in open spaces or landfills, contributing to environmental pollution and health issues. Our project directly addresses this by setting up a composting facility that turns organic waste into valuable compost. 

This not only reduces waste sent to landfills but also improves soil health and promotes sustainable agriculture. By focusing on organic waste, we aim to reduce waste’s environmental impact, improve waste management infrastructure, and educate the public on sustainable practices.

Do you have a personal milestone or favourite moment in this project so far?

A personal milestone for us has been establishing the composting facility at Otofure, Edo State, Nigeria, which marks a significant step toward sustainable waste management in the community. Our efforts to raise awareness about the benefits of composting through our social media handles have also been incredibly rewarding. Seeing the public engage with our campaigns and embrace composting has been fulfilling, as it shows growing recognition 

of composting as a valuable practice for both waste reduction and soil health improvement.

We have seen these key themes emerge in this project (Organic Waste Management, Infrastructure Development, Waste Picker Integration, Capacity Building and Awareness Raising, Local Government Engagement, National Policy Advocacy and Emissions Monitoring). Could you share experiences (as applicable) on any of these topics within this project so far?

On organic waste management, the composting facility we established can successfully divert organic waste from landfills.

On infrastructure development, we have developed composting infrastructure at a key location in Otofure community, Edo State, designed to handle both small-scale and large-scale organic waste processing.

Waste picker integration has been a priority. We are providing waste pickers with training and resources to engage in the composting process, improving their livelihoods and empowering them as vital stakeholders.

For capacity building and awareness raising, our social media campaigns and training programs have raised awareness about the importance of composting and waste management, engaging communities, businesses, and local authorities to ensure the message reaches a wide audience.

On local government engagement, we are actively working with local governments to promote composting as part of sustainable waste management practices; this collaboration has been instrumental in scaling the project to more communities.

And on national policy advocacy, our team is advocating for the adoption of national policies that encourage organic waste recycling, focusing on laws that incentivize composting and waste diversion from landfills.

What is the path forward for your organization and possible next steps from this project?

Looking ahead, we plan to expand our composting facility to more communities, focusing on integrating waste pickers into the composting process and providing them with training and resources. We will also engage with local and national government officials to promote policy changes that support sustainable waste management.

Our goal is to develop a scalable model that can be replicated in other regions and contribute to nationwide improvements in waste management. 

We also aim to build stronger partnerships with businesses to promote compost use in agriculture and landscaping, while continuing our public education and awareness campaigns.

The post How SEDI is promoting sustainable environmental practices through the MAMRN Project first appeared on GAIA.

Más de 20 especialistas, autoridades, académicos,organizaciones de la sociedad civil y representantes de movimientos de recicladores de América Latina y el Caribe se reunirán el próximo 2 de septiembre en Santiago de Chile para compartir experiencias,conocimientos  y estrategias para impulsar la transición hacia modelos basura cero en la región.

Santiago de Chile, agosto de 2026. — ¿Cómo puede la gestión de los residuos contribuir a enfrentar la crisis climática y, al mismo tiempo, generar soluciones locales y fortalecer a las comunidades? Esta será una de las principales preguntas que abordará el “Seminario Internacional basura cero: el rol estratégico de los residuos orgánicos para la acción climática y la democratización de soluciones”, que se realizará el miércoles 2 de septiembre, de 8 a.m. a 5 p.m., en el Aula Magna de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Organizado por GAIA, Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) y la Alianza Basura Cero, el encuentro reunirá a especialistas, organizaciones sociales, autoridades, representantes de gobiernos locales, academia y personas vinculadas a la gestión de residuos de distintos países de América Latina.

El seminario pondrá en discusión el potencial de los modelos basura cero como una estrategia concreta frente a la crisis climática, con especial énfasis en la gestión y valorización de los residuos orgánicos. La agenda contempla cuatro espacios: basura cero como estrategia climática y de desarrollo local; basura cero como política pública nacional; experiencias que demuestran que estos modelos funcionan; y un panel estratégico sobre cómo avanzar hacia una mayor responsabilidad de las empresas frente a los impactos generados por sus productos.

Entre las personas expositoras se encuentran Marcelo Mena, exministra de Medio Ambiente de Chile y director ejecutivo de Global Methane Hub; Juan Pablo Escudero, investigador del Instituto Emmett de UCLA y especialista en derecho ambiental; Kevin Basoa, del Ministerio del Medio Ambiente de Chile; María José Ureta, jefa de la Oficina de Economía Circular de Chile; Miguel Rivas, director de proyectos de Ponguinguiola, quien ha impulsado políticas públicas orientadas a la protección de ecosistemas, la reducción de plásticos y el desarrollo de soluciones climáticas, educativas y comunitarias; Christie Keith, coordinadora internacional de GAIA; y representantes de organizaciones de recicladores de base de Brasil, Argentina y Chile, entre otros especialistas y referentes de la región. 

La diversidad de voces busca poner en el centro soluciones que no sólo reduzcan los impactos ambientales, sino que también incorporen justicia social, participación ciudadana, trabajo digno y desarrollo local.

Basura cero plantea una mirada que va más allá de la disposición final de los residuos: busca prevenir su generación, recuperar materiales, reducir la contaminación y fortalecer sistemas locales capaces de responder a la crisis climática desde soluciones concretas y democratizadas.

Las inscripciones son gratuitas y deben realizarse previas al evento a través de este link.  

Fecha: miércoles 2 de septiembre de 2026

Horario: 8:00 a 17:00 horas

Lugar: Aula Magna, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Más información.

El seminario también contará con transmisión en vivo. Registros en este link.

Contactos de prensa: 

Camila Aguilera, GAIA, camila@no-burn.org  | +56 9 8913 6198

María Fernanda Pérez R., BFFP, mafe@breakfreefromplastic.org | +58 424 210 8017

The post Seminario internacional abordará el rol estratégico de los residuos orgánicos para la acción climática y la transición hacia basura cero first appeared on GAIA.

By Kadiatu A. Sherriff, 2026 Africa Zero Waste Academy Participant

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When I joined the Africa Zero Waste Academy, I came with an open mind.

 I have been working within the waste sector and thinking about the challenges and possible solutions in Liberia for some time. And I knew there was still a lot to learn. And the Academy became much more than a learning programme for me.

It was wonderful meeting young people from across Africa who had come together for different reasons, but with a shared interest in creating better waste systems. We listened, learned and challenged ideas together.

What made the learning particularly meaningful was its practicality. Even when we discussed theory, stories, experiences, and examples from different African countries brought the ideas to life. Some experiences resonated strongly with what we see in Liberia, while others opened my mind to approaches we could explore or adapt in our own context.

Then came the participant presentations. 

Different people brought different ideas and solutions, and right there, we could see opportunities for collaboration. Sometimes, you realise that someone else is working on a piece of the same puzzle you have been trying to solve.

And, of course, the facilitators brought so much to the experience. Their knowledge, questions, and experiences pushed many of us beyond simply knowing what the problem is to thinking more deeply about why it exists, who is responsible, and what kinds of solutions can create lasting change.

The Personal Shift

One of my biggest personal shifts was learning to question solutions—even some I had previously considered good.

The Academy made me ask myself: Does this solution actually pass the climate test?

Or are we sometimes managing the consequences of a broken system while calling it a solution?

Those questions have stayed with me.

It made me look differently at some of our own methods and the solutions we see around us. A solution should not simply move a problem somewhere else or create another problem in the process. If the end goal is positive change, then we have to be willing to rethink how we get there.

I came home wanting to look at some of our work at Golden Waste Solutions with fresh eyes—not because everything we have done is wrong, but because there is always room to ask better questions and improve.

I also appreciated the lighter side of the in-person experience. The learning was intense, but moments of laughter, connection, and celebration gave us room to breathe. The launch of FISSWWAG was one of those moments. The cultural expressions, the stories, and the atmosphere reminded me that learning doesn’t always have to happen in a serious room with a notebook in hand. Sometimes, you learn just as much by witnessing people come together, celebrate their identity and share their experiences.

And, of course, there was Culture Night. It was beautiful seeing our different cultures come alive. 

But beyond thesessions, culturatural exchanges, and food I found myself appreciating something else: meeting people not only as representatives of their countries, but as individuals. I came to know people beyond the country they represented. That made the experience even more meaningful.

I left Ghana with more than notes, certificates and photographs.

I left with WhatsApp contacts—but not just people to watch on my status. 

I left with young people from different parts of Africa with whom I now share something deeper: a common goal and the understanding that, whenever an opportunity or challenge arises, someone in this network may be the right person to call.

Maybe we will collaborate on a project.

Maybe we will share an idea.

Maybe one of us will simply reach out and say, “I think you should look at this.”

I left with questions, new perspectives, new connections and new possibilities.

And I think the timing could not have been better.

From learning to contribution

Interestingly, shortly after completing the Academy, I had the opportunity to participate in a civil society roundtable convened by the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD), at the request of Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency, as part of discussions around the country’s waste-management system.

I went into that conversation with fresh perspectives.

The Academy did not make me an expert on Liberia’s waste sector overnight. It gave me a stronger lens through which to contribute: looking beyond collection and disposal, and thinking about prevention, recovery, financing, climate impact, policy, people, and the connections between them.

I found myself better prepared to ask questions, share observations from our experience as a local waste enterprise, and listen to what others were seeing from their own positions.

That experience reinforced something I had begun to understand during the Academy:

Everything we do is connected to a larger system.

Writer’s Bio

Kadiatu A. Sherriff is the Founder and President of Golden Waste Solutions Enterprise Inc based in Liberia, where she works to design and implement ways to reduce waste and create income-generating activities for economically vulnerable communities.

The post I Came to Learn About Zero Waste, I Left Rethinking Our Waste Management System. first appeared on GAIA.

By Bob Kennedy, 2026 Africa Zero Waste Academy Participants

There are moments in life that quietly reshape how you see the world. For me, attending the 2026 Africa Zero Waste Academy in Accra, Ghana, was one of them.

As I boarded my flight from Kenya, I carried more than a suitcase. I carried years of lived experiences as a waste picker, community organizer, and climate advocate. I carried stories from the dumpsites of Nakuru and Likoni: resilience, innovation, inequality, and hope. Like many others working in waste, I have spent years proving that what society often overlooks is, in reality, one of the most important environmental services on our planet.

When I arrived in Accra, I quickly realized I was joining something much bigger than a training programme. The Academy brought together an inspiring community of practitioners from across Africa, each working in different contexts but united by a common belief: that waste is not merely an environmental issue; it is a question of justice, public health, livelihoods, and our collective future.

Throughout the week-long Academy, I listened to stories from different countries. While our languages, cultures, and waste systems differed, the challenges felt remarkably familiar. Communities everywhere are dealing with increasing volumes of waste, inadequate infrastructure, plastic pollution, open dumping, and policies that often fail to recognize the people who recover valuable materials every day. Yet alongside these challenges, I encountered extraordinary examples of courage, innovation, and community leadership.

One of the Academy’s greatest strengths was that it did not present zero waste as a theoretical concept. Instead, it showed that zero waste is already being practiced in markets, neighbourhoods, schools, recycling centres, composting projects, and informal settlements across Africa. It reminded us that solutions already exist within our communities if we are willing to recognize and invest in them.

The discussions also challenged me to think beyond waste collection. Zero waste is about redesigning systems. It is about preventing waste before it is created, supporting reuse, composting organic materials, strengthening recycling, and holding producers accountable for the products they place on the market. It is equally about ensuring that waste pickers, the people who have sustained these systems for decades are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.

Another lesson that will stay with me is the importance of collaboration. Governments cannot build a circular economy alone. Civil society cannot do it alone. Researchers cannot do it alone. Communities cannot do it alone. Real transformation happens when all these actors work together while recognizing the expertise that already exists on the ground.

I was particularly inspired by the openness with which participants shared both successes and failures. Honest conversations about policy implementation, community engagement, financing, and public education reminded me that building zero waste systems is a continuous learning process. Every challenge shared became an opportunity for collective problem-solving.

Beyond the classroom sessions, some of the most valuable learning happened over meals, on walks between venues, and in informal conversations late into the evening. These exchanges created connections that extended beyond professional networking. They built friendships and a shared commitment to supporting one another long after the Academy ended.

Personally, participating in the Academy reaffirmed something I have believed for years: waste pickers are not victims of the waste crisis; they are part of the solution. Every day, thousands of waste pickers recover recyclable materials, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prevent pollution, and contribute to local economies. Yet their work often goes unrecognized and unsupported. A just transition to zero waste must place waste pickers at the centre, not at the margins.

Returning home to Kenya, I brought back more than notes and presentation slides. I returned with renewed confidence that the work happening in communities matters. I returned with practical ideas, new partnerships, and a stronger belief that Africa has the knowledge and leadership required to build waste systems that are fair, inclusive, and sustainable.

The Academy reminded me that zero waste is not only about reducing waste. It is about rethinking our relationship with resources, valuing the people who manage them, and creating systems that protect both people and the planet.

As we continue this journey, I hope more young people, community organizations, municipalities, and policymakers will recognize that the future of waste management lies not in simply disposing of waste, but in preventing it, recovering its value, and ensuring that no one is left behind.

To everyone who made the Africa Zero Waste Academy possible, thank you for creating a space where learning, collaboration, and solidarity could flourish. The conversations that began in Accra will continue to shape my work, and I believe they will continue to strengthen Africa’s growing zero waste movement for years to come.

The journey continues, and so does our shared responsibility to build an Africa where resources are valued, communities are empowered, and zero waste becomes not just an aspiration, but a lived reality.

Writer’s Bio

Bob Kennedy Okoth is a Kenyan waste picker, climate justice advocate, and circular economy practitioner. His work is rooted in the lived realities of waste pickers and communities affected by poor waste management. He is actively involved in Zero Waste, climate action and environmental justice, and is a member of YOUNGO and the Youth Policy Action Network (YPAN). Through community organising, storytelling, and advocacy, Bob works to ensure waste pickers are recognised as essential actors in building inclusive, climate-resilient, and circular cities. 

The post From Nakuru to Accra: A Waste Picker’s Journey Through the Africa Zero Waste Academy first appeared on GAIA.

By Desmond Alugnoa and Ama Asiedu

For nearly a decade, the GAIA Africa team has been providing technical expertise and supporting movements across the continent, helping communities advance practical, just and people‑centred zero waste solutions. In 2025, we hosted the first-ever GAIA Africa Zero Waste Academy, with a simple but ambitious goal: to build the capacity of a new generation of African zero waste champions and create a growing platform for the practical implementation of zero waste solutions across the continent. One year later, that journey continues!

In 2026, the GAIA Africa Zero Waste Academy returned for its second edition, co-hosted withthe Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), in Ghana, a vibrant hub for youth‑led zero waste organising. This year’s Academy brought together 50 emerging and experienced climate and waste management practitioners from across Africa for a holistic journey of learning, exchange, movement building and action. More than 1,200 people applied to be part of the programme, reflecting the growing interest in locally led solutions to Africa’s waste and climate challenges.

A Movement That Keeps Growing

The Academy was created on the belief that Africa does not lack solutions to its waste crisis. Across the continent, communities are already composting, reusing materials, recovering recyclables, organising waste workers and developing alternatives to the extractive linear waste systems that perpetuate pollution and climate change. What is needed is to connect these experiences, strengthen the people leading them and create opportunities for learning across borders.

The 2026 Academy began with a five-week virtual programme, where participants explored movement building, waste characterisation, monitoring frameworks, climate and environmental justice, waste picker integration, community collection systems, composting, plastic pollution and methane. The learning was designed to go beyond theory. Participants were encouraged to examine the waste systems around them, understand the realities faced by waste workers and identify practical approaches they could adapt to their own communities, through hands-on weekly assignments to put their learning into practice.

As one participant, Bathseba Ratemo from Kenya, shared, the Academy offered an opportunity for “learning and unlearning, networking and sharing” a reflection that captures the spirit of the programme.

From the Virtual Classroom to Community Driven Action 

The in-person phase brought the cohort together in Ghana, creating space to deepen the learning through expert-led sessions, practical activities, field visits and conversations with people working directly within the waste sector.

Ghana provided a particularly fitting setting for this year’s Academy. In March 2026, Accra was recognised by the United Nations as one of 20 Cities Towards Zero Waste, highlighting the growing recognition of locally driven approaches to transforming urban waste systems. GAYO’s Zero Waste Accra Project has demonstrated how waste diversion, community action and the integration of informal waste workers can contribute to reducing pollution and methane emissions.

For Academy participants, visiting zero waste initiatives in Accra offered an opportunity to see these approaches in practice and consider how similar ideas could be adapted to their own contexts. But some of the most powerful learning came from witnessing movement building beyond the formal Academy sessions.

During the Academy week, participants attended the launch of the Federation of Informal Sector Waste Workers Associations of Ghana (FISWWAG). The launch marked an important step towards giving informal waste workers a stronger collective voice and advancing recognition, safer working conditions, fair pay and dignified livelihoods.

For participants, being present at this historic moment connected the Academy’s lessons on justice, organising and waste picker inclusion with a movement unfolding in real time. It was a powerful reminder that a just Zero Waste transition is not only about changing how we manage materials; it is also about ensuring that the people who collect, sort and recover those materials have a voice in shaping the systems they are part of.

Zero Waste Is About People

One of the strongest lessons from this year’s Academy was that zero waste cannot be separated from justice. Waste is not simply a technical issue. It is about livelihoods, health, dignity, climate and human rights.

Across Africa, waste pickers and informal waste workers recover valuable materials, reduce the amount of waste sent to dumpsites and landfills, and make important contributions to circular economies. Yet many continue to work without adequate recognition, protection or inclusion in formal waste systems.

This year’s Academy placed these realities at the centre of the conversation. Participants explored how waste systems can be designed to protect workers, recognise their knowledge and contributions, and ensure that the transition to zero waste does not leave anyone behind.

As GAIA Africa’s Zero Waste and Climate Programme Associate, Ama Asiedu, noted during the Academy, the programme is about more than managing waste better; it is about rethinking systems for climate resilience, green jobs and community health.

More Than a Training Programme

Perhaps the most valuable outcome of the Academy is the community that emerged from it. Participants did not simply leave with notes, presentations and certificates. They left with relationships, new ideas and a network of people working towards a common vision across the continent. The diversity of the cohort was one of its greatest strengths. Participants brought experiences from different countries, sectors and communities, but found common ground in the challenges facing Africa’s waste systems and the possibilities for change.

For us, this is what makes the Academy more than a training programme. It is a space where practitioners can learn from one another, challenge existing approaches, build solidarity and return home better equipped to act. The real test begins after the Academy.

From Ghana to the Continent

The second Africa Zero Waste Academy has shown us that the movement is growing and becoming more connected.

From Ghana to Uganda, Kenya to Nigeria, Senegal to The Gambia and beyond, people are already developing solutions rooted in their own communities. They are organising waste workers, building grassroots movements, advocating for stronger policies, reducing waste and demonstrating that our systems can work differently.

The role of the Academy is to connect these efforts, strengthen their capacity and create a community where knowledge can move freely across borders. We are grateful to GAYO Ghana for co-hosting this year’s Academy and helping create a learning experience rooted in African realities. We are equally grateful to the facilitators, partners, funders and everyone who contributed their time, knowledge and energy.

Most importantly, we are grateful to the 2026 cohort. You came from different places, carrying different experiences and facing different waste challenges. But you showed what becomes possible when people commit to change and learn together.

The Academy may have ended, but the work has only begun. The next chapter will be written in communities, cities and countries across Africa  through the projects participants implement, the policies they influence, the movements they strengthen and the people they bring along. Africa does not need to wait for a zero waste future. We are already building it.

Ends. 

The post From Online Learning to On-the-Ground Action: Africa’s Zero Waste Movement Grows Stronger first appeared on GAIA.