Scaling Success: Organic Waste Recovery at the Buenos Aires Central Market
- Luz Ledesma Clavell
- Jun 27
- 7 min read
Key Takeaways:
The Buenos Aires Central Market generates 13,000 tons of organic waste each year and currently recovers approximately 2,500 tons through composting and food donations
In 2024, it produced 155 tons of compost, officially certified as Class A
The market donates up to 10,500 meals each day, saving USD $66,500 annually in transportation and landfill disposal costs, while contributing to mitigating up to 27 tCH4, which is 756 tCO2eq/year
About the Buenos Aires Central Market
As part of my role in coordinating an organic waste recovery research project in Argentina —through the Recycle Organics Program and funded by the Climate & Clean Air Coalition —I often enjoy exploring successful initiatives that reduce methane emissions from organic waste. The Buenos Aires Central Market, a key hub in the country's food system, is one of them.
My primary objective during the visit was to understand the process by which the Central Market achieved its compost certification—an accomplishment held by only two facilities in Argentina. While that specific aspect remained partially unclear, the visit nonetheless provided valuable insights, which I outline below.
I recently joined a self-organized group visit to this massive distribution center, which supplies fruits and vegetables to nearly 15 million people across the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and greater metropolitan area.
Opening its doors in 1984 and covering 500 hectares, the market hosts 10,000 visitors and 700 trucks daily, handling over USD $1 billion in produce annually. It includes 18 wholesale halls and 900 vendor stalls and features a dedicated unit for food safety inspections.
The market is chaired by a President who is appointed by the national government and shares its Governance among representatives of the Government of Buenos Aires City and the Government of Buenos Aires Province.
This tripartite governance structure means that strategic decisions are made jointly by representatives of the three jurisdictions—national, city and provincial—making the implementation of any initiative a matter of intergovernmental coordination. That’s why the progress made by the organic waste recovery program is particularly noteworthy—it reflects a significant achievement in intergovernmental coordination, often featuring collaborations amongst parties with opposing views.
How the Organic Waste Recovery Started: From Crisis to Coordination
In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Market’s leadership decided to formalize a Food Loss and Waste Reduction and Organic Waste Recovery Program. The economic crisis caused by the pandemic led to a sharp rise in unemployment and poverty, which was visibly reflected at the Market: hundreds of people began scavenging for discarded food in the roll-off containers (see the next picture and imagine it full of people scavenging and quarrelling).
In response, the Market created a formal registry for social organizations and structured the donation of edible surplus food, ensuring safer and more equitable food access. Shortly thereafter, the Market began composting materials unsuitable for human consumption.
This process also benefited from earlier technical work. In 2018, prior to the formal program, the Market’s Quality Department had reached out to the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI) to conduct a waste characterization study. This collaboration was possible because the Market and INTI had already signed a broader cooperation agreement.
With technical guidance from INTI’s Waste Division and active participation from Market staff, the study helped quantify the volume and composition of waste streams, demonstrating the significant potential for organic waste recovery and valorization. This evidence laid the groundwork for the program’s launch and its ongoing development.
Waste, Recovery and Reducing Methane Emissions
According to the INTI, the market produces around 30,200 tons of waste annually—this includes 13,000 tons of organic waste. Since 2021, the market’s Food Loss and Waste Reduction and Organic Waste Recovery Program, led by agriculture engineer Fabian Rainoldi from the Office of Quality and Transparency, has been making a remarkable difference: in 2024, the program recovered 2,500 tons of organic waste.
The recovery process starts inside each wholesale hall, where vendors separate organic waste at the source. Each hall has a designated market waste representative who is part of the Program. The waste representative collects the separated organic waste and conducts an initial sorting outside the hall, distinguishing between edible and compostable materials. The segregated waste is then placed into green bins, as shown in the photos below.
Approximately, 50% of the waste recovered is composted, producing 155 tons of compost in 2024. The compost was officially certified as Class A , which means that it has an unrestricted use, including in agriculture, landscaping and even home gardens. It was registered by the National Service of Agri-Food Health and Quality (SENASA) as a Non-Microbial Biological Amendment (No. 60556-BIO) in February 2025.
50% of the organic waste recovered is redirected to social use, with food donations reaching 200–300 community kitchens per month. In 2024, they provided an average of 10,500 daily meals.
Economic Impact
According to my calculations, considering landfill disposal cost of around $13.7/ton and an additional $257 for each final disposal transport fee, the program saved approximately USD $66,500 in 2024
If the program were to recover all the generated organic waste, the savings would amount to USD $347,000 per year. Naturally, these additional savings would need to be weighed against the required investments in infrastructure and equipment, as well as the ongoing maintenance and operational costs necessary to manage a fully scaled-up treatment system.
More benefits
However, its value goes beyond numbers. Here are some of the additional co-benefits and opportunities this creates:
Environmental: GHG emissions are reduced by keeping organic waste out of landfills and by avoiding transportation. Additionally, the composting process contributes to reducing leachate production at landfill sites and avoids emissions associated with long-distance waste transport.
Financial: Reinvesting savings into program expansion and equipment (e.g. compost turners, storage facilities) could improve efficiency and long-term impact. In addition, the certified compost can be sold, providing an additional revenue stream for the Market. On the other hand, compost offers a cost-effective alternative to imported synthetic fertilizers, reducing local agricultural operating costs and improving soil health.
Social: Before, families scavenged for discarded produce. Today, a beneficiary registry ensures more equitable and safe food access, combatting food insecurity issues. Additionally, at least eight new green jobs were created as part of the program’s operations—showing how circular economy approaches can support social inclusion and livelihoods.
Challenges and Next Steps
According to Rainoldi, who leads the Food Loss and Waste Reduction and Organic Waste Recovery Program, there are several challenges ahead to consolidate and scale the initiative.
First, the program still operates with limited equipment and infrastructure. For example, a lack of approved funding by the Market Authorities to repair essential machinery such as the Bobcat limits composting capacity.
Second, to fully integrate organic waste recovery into the Market’s operations, further engagement from all stakeholders — particularly the vendors and stall operators who manage most of the produce flow — will be critical.
Third, there is an opportunity to strengthen the regulatory framework. While current procedures exist for waste management, the Market is working to establish formal protocols for both food donation and composting, which would provide greater operational clarity and legal certainty.
Finally, gender equity remains an area for further attention. While women are significantly involved in food sorting, preparation and redistribution activities within the program, the overall workforce at the Central Market remains male-dominated. Incorporating a stronger gender perspective into future staffing, training and leadership opportunities could enhance inclusiveness and social impact.
Conclusion
Even with extensive measurable savings and important social and environmental benefits, the program still runs with limited support by the Central Market Authorities. The program is a powerful example of what local initiatives can achieve—even on a tight budget. With stronger backing from the Market´s leadership, the Buenos Aires Central Market could become a benchmark for sustainable food infrastructure in Latin America.
With COP30 approaching this November in Brazil, country representatives and other stakeholders have a valuable opportunity to draw inspiration from successful initiatives like the organic waste recovery efforts at the Buenos Aires Central Market. Addressing methane emissions is a critical near-term action to keep the goals of the Paris Agreement within reach.
While deep decarbonization remains central to long-term climate strategies, immediate progress depends on targeted investments, strong collaboration and supportive policy frameworks. Organic waste recovery efforts exemplified in this market can be scaled and replicated to help other countries and communities reach climate targets and move closer to a more sustainable future.
Know of similar experiences happening in other markets? We’d love to hear about them. Reach out to development@ccap.org or leave a comment below.
About the Recycle Organics (RO) Program
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. 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 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and other climate goals.
Led by CCAP and ImplementaSur, with 35+ years of experience in the waste sector, Recycle Organics delivers significant environmental, economic and social benefits to local communities around the world.
In addition to CCAC, the Recycle Organics Program receives support from Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Global Methane Hub.
About Luz Ledesma Clavell
Luz is part of CCAP’s Methane Mitigation team as a Senior Policy Associate. For over 15 years, she has worked with cities and countries to implement transformative public policies that drive systemic change to reduce consumption, create circular economies and improve sustainable waste management practices.
Luz is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she formally worked in the city’s Environmental Protection Agency and started the Buenos Aires Circular Economy Network.
Luz’s passion for sustainability extends to her family life, where she and her two children compost together, embodying their shared commitment to environmental stewardship.
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The Center for Clean Air Policy's (CCAP) 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.
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