Luang Prabang City, 16 December 2025 — The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), in partnership with the Luang Prabang Urban Management and Services Office (UMSO), officially launched the Waste Recycling Bank (WRB) Initiative in Luang Prabang to strengthen waste separation and recycling practices across the city. 

As part of the initiative, GGGI handed over 30 sets of waste recycling bins (WRB), weighing scales, record books, and Eco-Credit digital tools to selected schools, institutions, business entities and healthcare facilities, accompanied by a waste separation awareness campaign. The program aims to address growing waste management challenges and promote recycling in Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site facing increasing pressure from urban development, tourism growth, and changing consumption patterns. 

Although efforts have been made to improve waste collection and public cleanliness, recyclable materials are often not separated at the source, leading to plastics, paper, glass, and metals being sent to landfills or leaking into the environment leading to pollution. Recycling systems have also been constrained by limited coordination, market volatility, and weak links between institutions and junk shops. 

Building on the successful Waste Recycling Bank models in Vientiane Capital and Vang Vieng, the Luang Prabang initiative promotes an integrated and incentive-based approach to recycling. Participating institutions are equipped with WRB materials and trained to use the Eco-Credit digital platform, which enables transparent tracking of recyclable materials and strengthens accountability. 

The launch event was co-chaired by Mr. Daovanh Sirivong, General Director of Urban Management and Service office (UMSO) and Mr. George Asiimwe (Senior Officer, Waste Management of GGGI), and joined by representatives from school administrators, healthcare staff, junk shop partners, and students. Alongside the handover ceremony, participants engaged in demonstrations and interactive activities to learn proper waste segregation and WRB operations. 

Through strengthened collaboration and digital monitoring, the initiative is expected to increase recycling participation, raise awareness among youth and communities, and support Luang Prabang’s transition toward a circular economy—contributing to cleaner environments and more sustainable tourism. 

Keynote from the chairs

Mr. Daovanh Sirivong: “Through the Waste Recycling Bank, we aim to engage schools, universities, hospitals, businesses, and local government offices to work together to keep Luang Prabang green and clean. We believe this initiative is not only about waste separation, but also about fostering positive behavior change, building knowledge, promoting healthier communities, and working hand in hand to protect our environment.” 

Mr. George Asiimwe: “Promotion of waste sorting among education institutions and healthcare facilities does not only promote recycling, but it also caused behavior change which is a foundation for a transition towards circular economy.” 

About the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)  

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) was founded as a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization in 2012 at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. GGGI supports its Member States in transitioning their economies toward a green growth model that simultaneously achieves poverty reduction, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. With 53 Member States and 30 Partner countries and regional integration organizations in the process of accession, GGGI delivers programs and projects in over 50 countries. These initiatives encompass developing innovative green growth solutions, technical support, capacity building, policy planning & implementation, and assistance in building a pipeline of bankable green investment projects, project financing, investments, and knowledge sharing. GGGI’s work contributes to its Member States’ efforts to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals and the Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement.  

Media Contact

(GGGI Lao PDR) Namchaythip Souvannavong, Communication and Knowledge Sharing Officer namchaythip.souvannavong@gggi.org

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