Local Heroes and Grassroots Leadership to Tackle Waste in Indonesia
After nearly five years of dedicated work and collaboration with over 30 partners to prevent plastic leakage into nature, WWF-Indonesia hosted a book launch for its compilation of human-centred stories – celebrating the core value that drives the initiative: collaboration. The book documents inspiring journeys of 12 Local Champions from 11 selected partners across Jakarta, […]
Digitalising Recyclable Waste Management through Mobile Application in Hue City
The Plastic Smart Cities (PSC) project in Viet Nam, in partnership with the mGreen social enterprise, has established a technology-enabled system to manage source-separated waste in Hue City. This intervention focuses on integrating the informal waste sector into a digital platform to improve the efficiency, traceability, and professionalisation of recyclable waste collection directly from households. A Mobile Application for Recyclables Waste Collection: mGreen The core of the intervention is […]
How Davao City Is Improving Neighbourhood-Level Plastic Recovery
Since 2024, Barangay Daliao in the Toril District of Davao City has been establishing a community-led foundation for sustainable waste management at the barangay level. Because the pilot program for the collection and segregation of recyclables, particularly plastics, is managed through local systems, the project designed capacity-building initiatives focused on enhancing operational efficiency. Central to this effort is the […]
Stakeholder Engagement and Waste Audit Training Across Semporna Islands
Over 40 school teachers and island community members in Semporna participated in the Jejak Siggit Waste Audit Training Workshop in December 2025. Jejak Siggit, which translates to “tracing the trash” in Bahasa Melayu, aims to equip Semporna islands’ community leaders with practical skills in waste audit methods, data collection, and understanding the importance of gathering evidence-based insights to improve waste management systems. Hosted by WWF-Malaysia and in-part conducted by the Malaysia Recycling Alliance (MAREA), the training also highlighted the close connection between land-based waste leakage and marine pollution, which threatens coral reefs, fisheries, and ultimately […]
WWF-Indonesia | A Ray of Light Amidst the Plastic Crisis
In the face of a mounting global plastic crisis, a dedicated group of local heroes is lighting the way toward a cleaner, more sustainable future for Indonesia. This book captures the power of grassroots leadership, profiling the extraordinary individuals who have turned environmental challenges into opportunities for community empowerment. These stories serve as a powerful […]
Project COPE: Circular Operations for Pollution-free Environment
WWF-Philippines kicked off the Circular Operations for a Plastic Pollution-Free Environment (COPE) Project back in the end of 2024, by assessing five of the highly urbanised barangays. Those barangays are: Bagong Silangan in Quezon City, 176-A to F Bagong Silang in Caloocan City, Municipalities of General Luna and Del Carmen in Siargao Islands, and selected barangays of Cagayan de Oro […]
Delivering Plastic Solutions Through Local Leadership at COP30
During the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, in Rio de Janeiro from November 3–5, 2025, WWF and the Alliances for Climate Action mobilised a cohort of 25 fellows from subnational governments in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and South Africa to take part in a series of learning sessions to foster peer networking and forward thinking. Over the course of four thematic sessions and broader […]
Over 100 Informal Waste Workers Gather in First Annual Convention
The initiative aims to better integrate informal waste workers (known as “saleng”) in Thailand into formal waste management/recycling systems, strengthen public–private partnerships, and promote sustainable waste practices across the city. Over 120 Informal Waste Workers Gather in Surat Thani Behind Surat Thani’s cleaner streets are the Saleng workers—informal waste workers who keep the municipality moving, despite limited social protection, recognition, and support. On 9 December 2025, over 120 members from the Saleng Association were brought together for its annual convention organised by WWF-Thailand […]
Derawan Pilots Island-based Waste Management with Plastic Smart Cities Framework
Inauguration of Derawan Island Waste Sorting House is set for Wednesday, 11 February 2026, in Derawan Island Village, Berau, East Kalimantan. Known for its stunning marine life, Derawan Village in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, has become a growing gateway for marine tourism. But as tourism expands, so do waste management challenges—especially for an island village located inside a Marine Protected Area. The island’s 80 non-residential buildings—including hotels and restaurants—generate an average […]
SEA of Solutions 2025 Bangkok: Plastic Smart Cities Reflections
Plastic Smart Cities and WWF-Thailand joined governments, industry leaders, civil society organizations, and coastal communities from across Southeast and East Asia at the Sea of Solutions 2025, convened by COBSEA (Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia) and UNEP (16 – 18 December 2025, Bangkok). The event brought together key stakeholders to strengthen regional dialogue on addressing marine plastic […]