New Collaboration Advances Organic Waste Recovery in Argentina to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- CCAP
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
Recycle Organics partners with CCAC to combat short lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) in Argentina.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Recycle Organics (RO) Program is expanding its efforts to tackle methane emissions in the Global South through a new project with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). This collaboration aims to address short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) in Argentina by developing policies for organic waste recovery. This initiative marks the second RO project in Argentina, supporting sustainable waste management and helping the country work toward the Global Methane Pledge goal of reducing methane emissions by 30% by 2030.
Argentina is also part of RO’s Community of Practice on Reducing Methane Emissions from Organic Sources in Latin America and the Caribbean (CoP Met-LAC), co-led with the LEDS LAC Platform. This new project complements previous RO work done in the region with neighboring countries featured in the initial Reciclo Orgánicos Latin America Program. Both the CoP Met-LAC initiative and the original RO program received support from the Global Methane Hub (GMH).
Through 2026, this project will assist the Argentine government in creating a framework for improving the management of organic waste treatment byproducts, including compost, digestate and biogas. Collaborating with a broad network of stakeholders—ranging from farmers to government and municipal officials—the RO team, led by CCAP and ImplementaSur, will showcase the potential for reducing methane and carbon emissions by integrating composting and anaerobic digestion policies into waste management practices.
“Organic waste is one of the largest contributors of methane emissions,” said CCAP Senior Policy Associate Luz Ledesma. “Through this project, we are strengthening the conditions necessary for stakeholders to measure, mitigate and transform organic waste into valuable resources. Since 2019, the country has made significant strides in organic waste valorization with the introduction of specific regulations. This is particularly important for Argentina, where 44.19% of solid waste disposed of in landfills consists of organic waste, yet recovery rates remain below 5%. At the same time, organic waste holds significant potential for producing compost, biofertilizers and bioenergy, as well as improving soil health and supporting circular practices in the agriculture and forestry industries.”
The objective of Argentina's 2005-2025 National Strategy of Solid Waste Management (ENGIRSU) is to establish an integrated waste management system that will improve public health and mitigate the environmental consequences of landfills. Historically, the program has already received funding from the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility to pilot projects such as building biogas systems in municipalities.
Argentina produces the third-most waste per capita amongst Latin American countries (1.16kg/day). While reducing greenhouse gas emissions is no longer a key policy focus under Argentina’s current administration, developing markets for organic waste byproducts—such as compost and biogas—offers a major economic opportunity. Investing in organic waste treatment can support industry diversification, create jobs and enhance resource efficiency, benefiting the agriculture, energy and agroindustry sectors.
The plan identifies key measures for emission reductions, including carbon sequestration through agroforestry, the cultivation of more efficient crops and the conversion of agricultural waste and biomass into energy. It also highlights opportunities for collaboration between the private sector and financial institutions, such as the Global Environment Facility, to advance the plan's sectoral objectives.
Approximately 50% of the overall waste stream across the nation is considered organic, meaning that roughly half of the municipal solid waste generated in the country is composed of organic materials like food scraps and yard waste. However, the largest organic waste streams are found during food production. In this sense, Argentina stands as a leading food producer in the region with large-scale agricultural and livestock industries, creating excellent harmony in the farming sector to maximize the benefits the organic waste stream has to offer.
“A key aspect of this project is its focus on the livestock sector,” explained CCAP Senior Waste Consultant Patricia Fernandez Cañas. “The livestock sector in Argentina is one of the main contributors to GDP, and the quality of Argentine meat is known worldwide. This makes it essential that both the production processes and the management of waste generated through this process find their basis in best practices. Standing as an exporter of agricultural products like meat, fruits, vegetables and fish, many of Argentina’s key trading partners are increasingly setting environmental requirements. In addition, the quantity and quality of the organic waste generated in the sector offers a great environmental and economic opportunity for use and recovery.”
RO is currently researching how swine farmers and other agricultural stakeholders like cattle packinghouses manage organic waste, while assessing and quantifying the extent to which this waste is being treated. As one of the world’s leading producers of beef, Argentina has significant potential to implement widespread energy recovery technologies and develop large-scale composting and anaerobic digestion operations that can be regionally replicated.
Likewise, these technologies can also replace synthetic fertilizers, sequester carbon and boost the local economy, presenting an extensive range of co-benefits for people and nature. Through this research, the RO team will also provide targeted training to these stakeholders, as initial interviews reveal that while information is abundant, it remains fragmented, leading to poor decision-making and missed opportunities—due to a lack of proper guidance.
By the end of the project, the team will recommend policies and regulations for the government to approve and implement, aligned with its overarching emissions reduction goals within these sectors. For instance, Argentina has had regulations for compost production, quality standards and application since 2019, yet the compost market is not fully developed.
“A successful organic waste management policy requires collaboration across all sectors—national government, the 23 provinces and more than 2,200 municipalities, as well as private stakeholders from livestock sectors involved in this project,” added CCAP Research Analyst María Paula Viscardo Sesma. “This initiative aims to create the right conditions for key actors to drive meaningful change.”
By conducting an emissions inventory at the country’s organic waste treatment facilities that are producing compost or digestate, RO will develop key indicators, such as the amount of organic waste treated per sector. Additionally, RO will estimate the CO2e reduction potential, comparing it to the production volume of valuable commodities like beef.
Key Outcomes for this Project
Assessing different types of organic waste and its potential use as value-added products after treatment
Increasing the capacity to monitor and assess greenhouse gas emissions originating from organic waste in the agriculture sector
Developing a policy that creates enabling frameworks for the recovery and use of the by-products (compost, biofertilizers) of organic waste valorization
Creating training tools and bolstering capacity for municipal, provincial and private stakeholders in formal professional programs to better manage, treat and valorize organic waste to improve business models and mitigate methane emissions
About the Recycle Organics Program
The RO program is also funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada, which is supporting six Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. This new Argentina project will be the fourth RO collaboration with CCAC since expanding the program to the Maldives, Togo and three additional Latin American countries in 2023.
In total, RO’s project portfolio spans over 50 initiatives across 25 developing countries worldwide that could mitigate up to +31 million tons of CO2e over the next 20 years and divert more than 700,000 tons of organic waste from landfills each year, extending their useful life. The Program accomplishes this through advancing policies, building regional capacities, accelerating green projects, raising awareness and developing custom strategies and investment plans, aligned with each country’s unique climate goals.
Overall, the Recycle Organics Program helps countries take meaningful action to cut methane emissions from organic waste, a critical step in tackling climate change. By supporting Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and advancing achievement of the Global Methane Pledge, the Program plays a key role in helping countries reduce waste sector emissions and meet international commitments. It aligns with the COP29 Declaration on Reducing Methane from Organic Waste, ensuring sustained progress in reducing one of the most potent greenhouse gases—1/5 of which come from the waste sector.
Led by CCAP and ImplementaSur, with 35+ years of experience in the sector, Recycle Organics delivers significant environmental, economic and social benefits to local communities around the world.
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CCAP’s mission is to support every step of climate action, from ambition to implementation. A recognized world leader in climate policy and action, CCAP creates innovative, replicable climate solutions, strengthens capacities, and promotes best practices across the local, national, and international levels to accelerate the transition to a net-zero, climate resilient future. CCAP was founded in 1985 and is based in Washington, DC.