Iloilo City joins UN’s zero-waste leaders

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The United Nations has named Iloilo City one of the world’s inaugural “20 Cities Towards Zero Waste,” recognizing cities that are advancing practical waste-reduction measures, circular economy solutions, and more resilient urban systems.

Iloilo City and San Fernando, Pampanga, are the only Philippine cities on the 20-city list.

The initiative was announced March 27 ahead of the March 30 International Day of Zero Waste and is led by the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Zero Waste, with support from UN-Habitat and the United Nations Environment Programme.

Neil Ravena, head of the city’s General Services Office, told the Daily Guardian that the recognition reflects Iloilo City’s push for a circular economy, particularly through initiatives such as the Uswag Calahunan Livelihood Association, or UCLA.

“[We are] organizing waste pickers as workers in [a] centralized material recovery facility. [We also have] recycling initiatives like bag making and paper recycling, and an integrated solid waste management facility,” he said.

The UCLA is a waste workers’ cooperative in Barangay Calahunan, Mandurriao district, that was initiated and formally registered in May 2009 to integrate informal waste pickers into the city’s solid waste management system and provide more sustainable livelihoods through recycling and materials recovery.

The cooperative has about 240 members who sort, collect, and sell recyclables, including plastics, while also pursuing livelihood activities such as composting and handicraft production.

Mayor Raisa Treñas attributed the recognition to sustained local efforts.

“One ambitious yet innovative approach at a time,” she said.

Treñas said the city government continues to push programs aimed at reducing waste and building a more sustainable and resilient urban environment despite ongoing challenges.

“There may be challenges along the way in implementing this, but as long as we work together to protect our environment, our efforts will surely succeed,” she added.

UNEP said the 20 recognized cities are at the forefront of the global waste challenge as the world generates more than 2.1 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste each year.

The agency said the program highlights cities that are translating policy into action through measures such as food waste prevention, organic waste management, reuse and refill systems, inclusive recycling models, policies to reduce single-use products, and community engagement campaigns.

UNEP said the initiative also aims to recognize city leadership, promote the exchange of good practices and lessons learned, inspire other cities to accelerate their transition toward zero waste, and support the local implementation of circular economy approaches.

José Manuel Moller, deputy chair of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Zero Waste, said the selected cities stand out for turning plans into action.

“These 20 cities matter, not because they have the best roadmaps on paper, but because they are turning ambition into action,” he said.

“What sets them apart is their willingness to implement real solutions, from source segregation and composting to reuse systems, informal sector inclusion, and citizen engagement,” he said.

“They are showing that zero waste is not a distant vision or a communications exercise,” he said.

“It is practical, local, and achievable when cities lead by example,” he added.

“At a time when many are still planning, these cities are proving that implementation is the real test of leadership,” he added.

The UN said the initiative supports Sustainable Development Goals 11, 12, and 13, and that the selected cities will be showcased on global platforms to share their experiences and encourage wider adoption of zero-waste practices.