Type
Workshop
Validation workshop of the BRS plastic waste toolkits for measuring plastic waste flows
Location
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Date
-
Duration
2 Days
Programme Area
Other
Registration
Invitation-only event
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-Face
Language(s)
English,
Spanish
Pillar
Planet
Partnership
Basel Convention Coordination Centre Stockholm Convention, BCRC Argentina
Event Objectives
The event focused on improving the understanding of plastic flows, including plastic placed on the market (POM), plastic waste generated, environmentally sound management practices, transboundary movements, and unknown or unmanaged flows. It also aimed to strengthen national capacities for data collection, analysis, and long-term monitoring.
Background
Plastic pollution has become a global environmental challenge. The increasing production and consumption of plastics, combined with insufficient waste management systems, has led to growing volumes of plastic waste. In response, the Basel Convention and its Plastic Waste Amendments aim to strengthen the control of transboundary movements of plastic waste and promote its environmentally sound management.
Within this context, the project “Support the development of a plastic inventory of Plastic Waste Flows in Latin America and the Caribbean (Bolivia, Ecuador and Suriname)” aimed to strengthen countries’ capacity to monitor, quantify, and manage plastic waste flows. The project was implemented in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Suriname from April 2025 to April 2026, with technical support from the Sustainable Cycles (SCYCLE) Programme of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Basel Convention Regional Center for Training and Technology Transfer for the South American Region (BCRC Argentina) under the coordination and financial support by the Secretariats of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions/the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and in collaboration with national authorities and key stakeholders.
Content and Structure
Main content:
A 2-day regional workshop on improving plastic waste statistics, including project updates from countries, methodology/toolkit training, hands-on group work, validation of data/results, and development of long-term improvement roadmaps.
Structure:
- Day 1: introductions, project/context presentations, country progress reports, toolkit demo, practical exercises, and group reporting.
- Day 2: recap of findings, methodology and factsheet validation workshops, roadmap planning, recommendations, and conclusions.
Methodology
Methodology covered in the workshop:
- Collection and compilation of plastic waste data
- Use and adaptation of the statistical/modeling tool
- Validation and optimization of datasets and factsheets
- Review of indicators, data sources, and methodologies
- Collaborative group work with feedback and reporting sessions
- Development of recommendations and a 10-year roadmap for improving plastic waste statistics.
Targeted Audience
Government officials, national statistical offices, environmental agencies, waste management authorities, and technical experts from participating countries involved in plastic waste data collection, analysis, reporting, and policy planning. Also includes representatives from international organizations and project partners (e.g., UNITAR, BCRC, BRS Secretariat).
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