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United Nations Environment Programme
Division of Technology, Industry and Economics
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Waste Management – Activities

Demonstration/Pilot Projects

The demonstration projects are designed to serve multiple purposes: to demonstrate the applicability of the approach (e.g. Integrated Solid Waste Management approach) in the given local conditions and thus instill confidence in the local authorities; to demonstrate the economic, environmental and social benefits of the specific project and thus build commitment of stakeholders; to provide hands-on work opportunity to partner institutions and thus support capacity building. A successful demonstration project also becomes a model for other local authorities to replicate it.

IETC carries out demonstration projects in core thematic areas across different regions. In the field of waste management, IETC has carried out demonstration projects in three broad areas:


A. Integrated Solid Waste Management

Demonstration projects in this field aim to develop Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) Plans supported by implementation strategies. Major steps in the process of development of ISWM Plans are: waste characterization and quantification (baseline data); assessment of current waste management system; setting targets which are expected to be achieved through ISWM; and identification of issues of concern of stakeholders. The ISWM Plans, apart from containing proposed policy, technical and voluntary recommendations, also have schemes/sub-projects with basic techno-economic feasibility studies to facilitate its implementation. Intensive training of personnel from partner institutions is carried out throughout this process. These projects have been successfully implemented in the following cities:

  • Wuxi New District, PR China
  • Pune, India
  • Maseru, Lesotho
  • Matale, Sri Lanka
  • Novo Hamburgo, Brazil
  • Nairobi, Kenya – ongoing
  • Bahir Dar, Ethiopia – ongoing

The first three ISWM Plans, along with other activities, have been undertaken under an umbrella project "Engaging Governments and Industry in Demonstrating 3R Principles through Integrated Waste Management" supported by the Government of Norway, Japan Trust Fund and Environment Fund (UNEP) during 2006-2009.


B. Specific Waste Streams

Demonstration projects in this field aim to develop a management plan for the waste stream under consideration. A major focus is on indentifying technologies for recovering useful resources from the waste stream. Currently, IETC is focusing on three specific waste streams:

  • Waste Plastics – Demonstration projects on "Converting Waste Plastics into Fuel". The projects include: characterization and quantification (baseline data) of waste plastics in industrial and municipal waste streams; assessment of current management system; identification and assessment of technologies for converting waste plastics into fuel as per local baseline data; exploring B2B partnership for technology implementation. The projects are currently on-going in Philippines and Thailand.

  • E-waste – Demonstration projects on "E-waste Management". The projects included: developing an inventory of E-waste, based on trade value chain; developing a management system for E-waste including identification of technologies for recovery of useful materials. This project has being implemented in Phnom Penh (Cambodia).

  • Waste Agricultural Biomass – Demonstration projects on "Converting Waste Agricultural Biomass into a Resource". The projects include: characterization and quantification (baseline data) of waste agricultural biomass in a specific area/region; assessment of current patterns of use/disposal of waste agricultural biomass; identification and assessment of technologies for converting waste agricultural biomass into useful energy/material as per local baseline data; exploring B2B partnership for technology implementation. The projects are currently on-going in the Philippines, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.


C. Resource Augmentation

Demonstration projects on Resource Augmentation based on the adaptation of environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) in local conditions.  The implementation of those ESTs is planned to bring awareness raising and to improve the local capacity in implementing such projects for supporting sustainable development in developing countries.

  • Resource Augmentation by Tapping Renewable Resources and by Utilizing Waste in Viet Nam, Feb 2008 (PDF 646KB) –Rapidly growing countries are facing challenges on two fronts.  Firstly, they need to ensure continuous availability of resources to support rapid industrialization and improved living standards.  Secondly, they have to control the pollution from industrial and municipal sources.  To address both of these challenges with one strategy, UNEP implemented the project in sugar industry in Viet Nam to harvest rainwater, to reuse wastewater and to convert organic waste into compost.  Rainwater harvesting and wastewater reuse reduced the demand for freshwater and it also helped to reduce the quantity of wastewater to be discharged. This, in addition to environmental benefits, also helped the sugar industry to save on the fees for obtaining organic waste in sugar industry helped their farmers, who supply sugarcane, to reduce their costs for buying fertilizer.  The project was implemented in partnership with Viet Nam Cleaner Production Centre.  The local partners and technical staff from sugar industry were trained to undertake designing and implementation of environmentally sound technologies for rainwater harvesting, wastewater reuse and composting.