Seoul, Republic of Korea, April 30 2024 – The ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF), Korea Environment Corporation (K-eco), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National Institute of Green Technology (NIGT), and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) are co-hosting ‘ASEAN Waste Management Capacity Building Knowledge Sharing’ program. Representatives from all 10 ASEAN member countries, alongside the ASEAN Secretariat, are visiting Korea to study Korean waste management practices and waste-to-energy solutions. Additionally, the team is engaging with 14 Korean technology service providers and developers to explore the applicability of their technologies in various ASEAN cities.
The ASEAN region, facing rapid economic development and increased urban populations, has seen accelerated municipal solid waste generation, challenging waste management efforts. Despite recycling, waste management falls short, with common practices of open dumping and burning. Landfills struggle with volume, and waste-to-energy and waste-to resources is seen as a solution only in some of the ASEAN Member countries.
“Waste is central to the sustainability crisis we are facing today. We need a paradigm shift in the way we manage waste. We need to move away from landfills. There are a range of better options to prevent or deal with waste and turn it into a resource,” highlighted Frank Rijsberman, Director-General of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).
In response to the challenges, GGGI along with its partners initiated the ‘Korea-ASEAN Integrated Urban Solid Waste Management (IMSWM) Cooperation Project for Sustainable Cities’ spanning three years until 2026 and receiving financial support from the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund. The project aims to reduce carbon and methane emissions by approximately 6 mtCO2eq, generate around 1300 green jobs, and improve access to solid waste management services for an estimated 4 million people across AMS. The ‘ASEAN Waste Management Capacity Building Knowledge Sharing program’, delivered by K-eco, is also part of project’s broader objectives. 30 Participants from ASEAN member countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam are actively engaged in this knowledge-sharing program.
“K-eco aims for participants to gain extensive knowledge and enhance solid waste management capabilities, ultimately improving quality of life and promoting sustainable development. We encourage active sharing and learning of technology and knowledge, fostering collaboration among ASEAN countries and Korea,” said Byeong-ok Ahn, K-eco’s chairman.
Participants will also explore advanced environmental facilities in Korea which may lead to future international collaboration. These sites include Union Park, Korea’s first underground waste treatment facility, Sudokwon Landfill, and Sky Park, restored from a landfill to an ecological environmental park. After the program, participants will conduct country assessments and collaborate with the private sector to pinpoint 21 key investments in ASEAN. These projects will undergo further development as part of the ongoing initiative.
About ASEAN-KOREA Cooperation Fund
ASEAN-KOREA Cooperation Fund is a fund that was established in 1990 to strengthen Korea-ASEAN bilateral relations and promote projects agreed upon by both sides in areas such as development cooperation, human resources, and cultural and academic exchanges.
About K-eco
The Korea Environment Corporation (K-eco) is a quasi-governmental organization under the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea. It aims to become a global, total environment services provider striving to keep healthy and clean the sustainable environment of both Korea and the world.