Zero waste advocates call for systems change. The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) Asia Pacific is using the movement’s strength to celebrate International Zero Waste Month this January. GAIA is a network of grassroots groups and national and regional alliances representing over 1,000 organizations from 92 countries.
Photo credit: Ready Made
Zero Waste Month celebrations originated in the Philippines in 2012 when youth leaders issued a Zero Waste Youth Manifesto calling for, among other things, the celebration of a Zero Waste Month. Presidential Proclamation No. 760 made the program official, declaring January as Zero Waste Month in the Philippines. It was then promoted widely by non-government organizations (NGOs) and communities that had already adopted this approach to manage waste.
Leveraging its broad international network, GAIA boldly takes the lead to put genuine zero-waste work into action despite the many false narratives fed by corporations, international financing institutions, and other governing bodies. Through science-based and proven solutions to waste, the alliance works on the premise that zero waste opens up opportunities to address more significant climate challenges. Zero waste is climate action, and Zero Waste Month, with its theme “Zero Waste for Zero Emission,” hopes to show just that.
Zero to hero
GAIA and its members have lined up initiatives to educate and spark conversations about waste management solutions—from gatherings to forging alliances, to film festivals. The coalition sends the message of zero waste by showcasing results-backed learning from experts and experienced individuals worldwide. Moreover, zero waste is one of the critical ways to achieve zero emissions; waste-to-energy (WtE) incineration is a false solution and a step backward, and zero waste systems ensure a just transition for all.
Here are the month’s highlights throughout the Philippines and across the region:
- Refuse Single-Use Day India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, January 6
- Zero Waste Olympiad (Philippines, January 6)
- Zero Waste Film Fest-Digital (Online, January 9 to 31)
- Davao People’s Forum on Alternatives for WtE Incineration (Philippines, January 9)
- Launch of Zero Waste Journalist Network-Asia Pacific (Online, January 19)
- Brand audit and waste assessment (Philippines, January 25)
- Media briefing (Philippines, January 24)
- International Zero Waste Cities Conference (Philippines, January 26 and 27)
- Launch of Zero Waste Cities Network (Philippines, January 26)
- Organics fair (Philippines, January 26)
- Zero-Waste Film Fest (India, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam)
- Zero waste tour (Philippines, January 28)
- Waste Worker Appreciation Day (Philippines, January 28)
- Aliansi Zero Waste Indonesia (AZWI) Talk (Indonesia)
- Campaign for Sustainable Glove Purchasing for Health Facilities (Southeast Asia)
- Clean-up and Waste Assessment and Brand Audit (Cambodia, India)
- Freedom in A Cup Fundraising Launch (Philippines)
- Launch of Zero Waste Schools, Cafes, and Clinics (Nepal)
- Zero Waste consulting services (Nepal)
- Lobbying with stakeholders (Cambodia, India, Philippines)
- Kuha sa Tingi 2nd phase (Philippines)
- Street Play (India)
- Zero Waste and Burn Not Mobile Exhibition (Philippines)
- Zero Waste creative actions (India)
- Zero Waste documentary and film showing (Indonesia, India, Nepal, Vietnam)
- Zero Waste fair (Indonesia, Philippines)
- Zero Waste fora in schools (Philippines)
- Zero Waste interactive exhibit (Philippines)
- Zero Waste march (Philippines)
- Zero Waste sessions and street plays in colleges and schools (India)
- Zero Waste store promo (Hong Kong)
- Zero Waste writing competition (Indonesia)
The International Zero Waste Month is made possible through the generous support of the Plastic Solutions Fund in partnership with the following media outlets: Advocates (Philippines), Bandung Bergerak (Indonesia), Business Ecology (China), The Business Post (Bangladesh), The Manila Times (Philippines), Pressenza (Global), Sunrise Today (Pakistan), The Recombobulator Lab (Global), and Republic Asia. (Story by Randy Peregrino)