Blog

From the Field: Reducing Single-Use Plastics Through Social and Behavior Change Research

The proliferation and disposal of single-use plastics threatens the health and biodiversity of our oceans and contributes to climate change. In the Maldives’ city of Hulhumalé, with an estimated population of over 240,000—roughly 41 percent of household solid waste is single-use plastics1. For the Maldives and many other island nations,… Read More

Systems Thinking Offers a Locally Led Path to More Resilient Cities

Growing cities create exciting opportunities for development and economic expansion. But, as a city rapidly grows in population and size, its infrastructure and services must keep up to meet residents’ needs. Traditional urban planning approaches may exclude certain groups, leaving their priorities ignored. Furthermore, cities are facing increasing climate-related threats… Read More

De Desechado A Recuperado: Reduciendo la contaminación por plásticos en los océanos de la República Dominicana.

In English Alfonso Frías, quien ahora tiene 32 años, recolecta desechos plásticos desde 2019 en la provincia de Samaná, en el extremo noroeste de la República Dominicana. Conocida por sus aguas cristalinas y las visitas de las ballenas jorobadas en invierno, la provincia de Samaná es… Read More

USAID Spotlights Cities at Our Ocean Conference

March 2, 2023 – Around the world, waste management is the responsibility of local governments. Few local government services are as visible in our daily lives—and important—as waste management. Yet many local governments lack the institutional capacity and resources necessary to successfully plan, build, and operate the on-the-ground waste management… Read More

Six Ways USAID is Advancing Gender Equality in the Waste Sector

Women play a critical role in the waste sector, as informal workers collecting plastics, or as owners of recycling centers and upcycling businesses—preventing plastic waste from reaching the ocean. Read More

60 Kenyan innovators selected for $70,000 Mombasa Plastics Prize

By Kang’ethe Njoroge The Mombasa Plastics Prize has selected 60 innovators whose ideas have been selected to tackle marine plastic pollution along the coastline of Mombasa County.   Aged 18-25, the finalists are grouped into 15 teams and are now in a race to be one of the top three teams… Read More

From Waste to Recovery: Reducing Ocean Plastic Pollution in the Dominican Republic

Reducing ocean plastic pollution in the Dominican Republic Read More

Blended Finance: A Blueprint to Support a Circular Economy in Indonesia

Like many rapidly urbanizing countries across Asia, Indonesia is faced with the challenge of reducing and recycling growing volumes of waste without the recycling infrastructure it requires. Increasing that challenge is the geographic reality of collecting waste across an archipelago of 17,000 islands.  In October 2022, the U.S. Agency for… Read More

Part of the Solution, Not Pollution

Nestled between two lush mountains with flowing rivers and mineral springs lies Sokobanja, a picturesque town in southeastern Serbia. Its rich cultural history and natural spas make Sokobanja a popular place to vacation for rest and relaxation. Yet, despite being marketed as an ecotourism destination, only two of Sokobanja’s 24… Read More

Best of 2022 – Ocean Plastics at USAID

In 2022, countries around the world came together in a momentous decision to develop a new global plastics treaty to end plastic pollution. In building the capacity of city governments for environmentally sound management of waste and an inclusive circular economy, USAID is enabling countries to set ambitious goals for… Read More