Alliance in Action

A fundamental gap in ensuring waste—plastic, glass, metal, or otherwise—does not enter our environment is the lack of proper waste management infrastructure. Our aim is to help develop infrastructure systems that can eventually be owned and operated by the communities they serve.

In Jembrana, Bali, we are working with the municipal body to develop a waste management system that also contributes to the rejuvenation of the municipality—with cleanup activities and the redevelopment of illegal dumpsites into new public spaces for the community. In Ghana and the Philippines, we are starting to see positive impact as sustainable solutions can help scale business, create better jobs, and transform communities.

Empowering communities with the knowledge and tools to be part of the solution forms the ‘heartware’ that helps ensure that the ‘hardware’ we develop can have long-lasting impact.

We partnered German development agency, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to pilot a waste management system in the cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh, which lie along the Ganga river, to help prevent plastic waste leakage. Planning for material recovery facilities is under way.

In the meantime, a collective commitment has been made to clean up the iconic river. Several events to raise awareness about source segregation and cleanup activities were conducted with members of the public to help prepare the community for new waste management infrastructure that is planned for commissioning in 2022.

Education and engagement efforts are also expanding in Rayong, Thailand to help households better manage their waste.