The training workshop on “Designing and Implementing Solid Waste Management Projects to Promote Circularity” was organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI). The workshop brought together government officials and private sector representatives from across Central and West Asia (Azerbaijan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan), South Asia (Bangladesh, Pakistan), East Asia (Mongolia), and Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Lao PDR, and the Philippines). The participants, many of whom are engaged in planning and operational roles, represented countries with significant needs for capacity building, peer-to-peer learning, and knowledge exchange on solid waste management and circular economy approaches.
Ms. Hayashi from IGES delivered two presentations and served as the session facilitator during Session 12 titled “How to Develop a SWM City Action Plan / Master Plan.”
In her first presentation, she introduced a pilot project in Padang City, which aims to transform the current quasi-voluntary waste bank operations into a profitable and sustainable business model. The project seeks to strengthen the link between supply and demand among stakeholders by utilizing digital tools, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and financial viability.
In the second presentation, Ms. Hayashi emphasized the importance of a well-structured action plan that not only addresses existing challenges but also anticipates future needs and improvements. She stressed that such plans should promote sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience through a multi-stakeholder consultation process. Furthermore, she highlighted the critical role of monitoring and evaluation (M&E), noting that M&E—particularly data collection—is often overlooked or left unbudgeted. Drawing from the Padang pilot project, she outlined seven key considerations essential for effective SWM action plan development; 1) Infrastructure & Technology, 2) Behavioral Change & Public Awareness, 3) Financing & Resource Mobilization, 4) Policy & Strategy, 5) Institutional Setting, 6) Stakeholder Engagement & Governance and 7) Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E).
The third part of the session consisted of group discussions and presentations by country. This segment aimed to engage participants in a hands-on group exercise to design a SWM action plan using a structured approach. The exercise encouraged collaborative exploration of local challenges, identification of root causes, development of context-specific, actionable solutions through peer-to-peer learning. The session provided an opportunity for participants to apply theoretical knowledge to practical planning within their respective local contexts.