Report: Impact and Insights on Organic Waste Management in SIDS
- Recycle Organics
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Opportunities to Advance Waste Sector Mitigation Action
Despite being on the front lines of climate impacts, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are leading with urgency—advancing practical, high-impact climate solutions to rapidly reduce methane emissions from the waste sector. The Recycle Organics (RO) Program, supported by an $8 million CAD contribution from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), has helped turn this ambition into action from 2023 to 2026.
By working directly with municipal representatives, national governments, local partners and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in six SIDS across the Caribbean and Pacific (Belize, Guyana, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Samoa and Fiji), the RO Program has accelerated the development and implementation of organic waste management systems to deliver measurable environmental, economic and social benefits to these island nations. Its efforts are anchored in three strategic pillars:
Developing policy and regulatory frameworks
5 National-level policy instruments across 5 countries
6 Planning instruments for national and subnational governments
Providing financial and technical assistance for project portfolio acceleration
76 organic waste management projects identified across 6 countries
19 developers assisted with prefeasibility studies, including business model analysis and mitigation potential
Technical and implementation support to launch pilot home composting programs across 6 countries, reaching over 1,000 households, diverting 1,300 tonnes of food and garden waste annually
Provision of key equipment, such as woodchippers, front loaders, modular anaerobic digesters, composting bins, open pyrolysis systems for biochar production, among others, to scale promising methane mitigation projects
Capacity building and raising awareness
The implementation of 3 educational networks across schools, hotels and municipal offices
The development of Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) Protocols to track key climate data for emissions estimates
Developing Waste Characterization Studies to improve local data
Nine onsite trainings to improve composting and black solider fly operations for over 140 project-operators participating
To sustain this momentum in all beneficiary countries, the RO Program has identified several opportunities that are outlined in the Impact and Insights on Organic Waste Management in SIDS Report.
These opportunities were identified throughout the implementation of the program and in specific discussions held during the regional workshop, “Recycle Organics: Deepening Impact, Expanding Action in SIDS,” held in Florianopolis, Brazil, from September 23–25, 2025.
This document highlights how and where continued efforts can generate the greatest impact, strengthen ongoing initiatives and facilitate the long-term expansion of effective organic waste management practices in SIDS.
Recycle Organics is committed to supporting policy and regulatory framework development at the national and subnational levels, engaging with public and private organizations to advance projects in the pipeline towards implementation, creating capacity among diverse stakeholders and raising awareness for citizens to promote sustainable organic waste management practices. The insights presented here aim to guide partners interested in contributing to lasting improvements in organic waste management and methane mitigation across the region.
Recycle Organics: Paving the Way Towards Circularity in 25 Developing Countries
Launched in 2017 to support Chile in developing its national waste strategy, the Recycle Organics Program has since grown into a global initiative spanning 25 countries. With support from ECCC, the Global Methane Hub and the Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), the Program now manages a diverse portfolio of over 50 projects—ranging from large-scale landfill gas-to-energy systems to community composting and biodigesters for small farms. Together, these efforts have the potential to mitigate over 31 million tons of CO₂e over the next two decades and divert more than 700,000 tonnes of organic waste from landfills each year.
By working at both national and local levels, Recycle Organics ensures climate action is inclusive, grounded in local realities, and designed for long-term impact. The Program continues to evolve—demonstrating that reducing methane emissions can also drive economic growth, support livelihoods, and strengthen climate resilience.
As the effects of the climate crisis deepen, especially for vulnerable communities in SIDS and across the Global South, Recycle Organics is scaling its impact—expanding solutions, deepening south-south collaboration, and equipping governments and communities with the tools to turn waste into opportunity. This work is about more than emissions—it’s about building a resilient, circular future where local action drives global change.
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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.
Great to see a structured approach—combining policy, funding, and capacity building is key to making waste management systems actually work long-term. Programs like this can create real impact for island nations facing unique environmental challenges. You’ll often find discussions like this alongside a wide range of topics online, even occasional mentions of things like Slope Rider in more casual contexts.