Better Livelihoods for Informal Waste Workers through EPR in Thailand

Building on the project’s activities to support informal waste pickers (known colloquially as saleng in Thai) in Surat Thani, training sessions on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and human rights were conducted in March 2026 with the participation of representatives from Trang and Koh Tao municipalities, EPR experts, businesses, WWF, and over 80 informal waste pickers. This multi-stakeholder meeting focused on bridging the gap between high-level policy and the essential […]
Strengthening Local Capacities and Waste Picker Livelihoods in Gaziantep

Since 2024, WWF-Türkiye has been implementing the project “Waste pickers and Waste Not to be Wasted in Gaziantep” to strengthen waste management systems and improve the living conditions of waste pickers. By partnering with local stakeholders to deliver immediate, tangible support, ranging from protective equipment to health and language training, directly to waste pickers and […]
Plastic Smart Ports Project Launched to Reduce Plastic Leakage and Protect Marine Habitats in the Mediterranean

A major step has been taken in the fight against plastic pollution in the Mediterranean with the official launch of the Plastic Smart Ports project during an kick-off meeting held in Izmir, Türkiye. The project aims to transform selected fishing and tourism ports into replicable models of responsible plastic waste management across the Mediterranean. By […]
WWF-Indonesia & YouthLab Indonesia Launches Youth Sustainability Index Report 2025

WWF-Indonesia Plastic Smart Cities and YouthLab Indonesia launched the Youth Sustainability Index Report 2025 at the Lestari Summit & Awards 2025, a collaborative platform organized by KG Media to bring together leaders, practitioners, academics, local communities, and innovators to shape Indonesia’s sustainability agenda. The data-driven report serves as a benchmark to measure the perceptions, behaviours, […]
Coastal Communities Drive Waste Collection and Recycling in Semporna Islands

Island Recycling Centers Enhance Waste Management in Three Islands in Semporna On Larapan Island and Omadal Island, the “Rumah Kitar Semula” or Recycling Centres have been successfully establishedto serve as collection points for recyclable materials under the islands’ waste management plans. Developed together with community-led action groups with funding from the European Union, and supported […]
Capacity Building Program Strengthens Civil Society in Gaziantep

In January 2024, Şahinbey Municipality in partnership with WWF-Turkiye launched the project ‘Wastepickers and Waste Not to Be Wasted in Gaziantep’, in one of Türkiye’s largest districts. Funded by the European Union, the project not only aims to strengthen waste management systems, but also promote social inclusion and better living conditions for registered waste pickers. […]
Hue Pilots Deposit-Return Scheme to Boost Plastic Bottle Recycling

To advance circular economy solutions, WWF-Viet Nam, in collaboration with Hue University, launched a pilot Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) on 14 September 2025. DRS is widely recognized as an effective approach to complement Extended Producer Responsibility Schemes (EPR), especially in increasing the recovery rate of recyclable materials, including beverage containers. Under this approach, consumers pay […]
Empowering Informal Waste Pickers in Surat Thani

WWF-Thailand held a Kick-off Workshop for the Saleng (a casual term referring to informal waste workers in Thailand) Association on 27 August 2025 in Surat Thani, as part of its collaboration with the Surat Thani Municipality and local partner Blue Ocean. The workshop, attended by 87 members of the informal waste workers network, began with […]
Empowering Island Communities: Community-led Waste Management Plans in Action

WWF-Malaysia’s No Plastic in Nature (NPIN) initiative has been working in Sabah with local governments, community-based organisations, universities and local businesses to tackle mounting plastic pollution in its coastal and marine environments, particularly in Sempora, a coastal town that sits along the Celebes Sea and serves as the gateway to some of the most biodiverse […]
From Classrooms to Coastlines: Schools, Communities, and Tourists Unite Against Plastic Pollution

Hue City is emerging as a model for community-driven environmental action in Viet Nam, where schools, citizens, and local institutions are working together to tackle plastic pollution. Through a series of on-ground initiatives, from the Plastic Reduction School Model to large-scale clean-ups and sustainable tourism programmes, Hue is not only reducing waste but also cultivating […]