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South American circular economy initiatives

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2026-10-01 19:59 UTC → 2026-10-01 21:35 UTC · added ~~removed~~

South American nations are implementing various circular economy and waste management initiatives across industrial, community, and agricultural sectors. In Paraguay, the Oportunidades Circulares (POC) 2.0 program, supported by the European Union and UNIDO, is working to integrate circularity into industrial strategies. Simultaneously, Bolivia has launched a coprocessing project in Viacha in collaboration with German Cooperation (GIZ) to use non-recyclable waste as alternative fuel for cement production. In Chile, efforts are expanding through community and agricultural programs. The “Pueblo Hundido Circular” project in Monte Patria has secured 14 million pesos from the Ministry of the Environment’s 2025 Recycling Fund to implement vermicomposting, textile recycling workshops, and new waste classification containers. In the Maule region, the Ministry of Agriculture continues to partner with Campo Limpio to recycle empty agrochemical containers. Chilean efforts have also expanded to include innovation recognition via the Circular Awards 2026 and industrial support through the Construction Circular Economy Network (Red ECC). Educational initiatives have also emerged, such as a school vermicomposting system at Liceo Alcalde Sergio González Gutiérrez in Pozo Almonte, which uses organic waste to produce worm humus and liquid fertilizer. To advance these goals, the Ministry of the Environment recently introduced REgenera Chile, a National Circular Economy Agenda. This plan aims to reach a general recycling rate of 40% and double the number of certified base recyclers from 3,500 to 7,000. While the REP Law has expanded management systems to 34 between 2022 and 2025, challenges persist regarding infrastructure for collection and organic waste valorization. Recent technological developments include the CEAZA project in La Serena, which engages businesses like Qamawi and Cervecería Ánima to discuss water efficiency and the use of purifying wetlands as nature-based solutions. In Ecuador, the Instituto de Investigación Geológico y Energético (IIGE) has presented the PTAR-Biocarbón wastewater treatment system in Manabí. This technology uses pyrolysis of organic urban solid waste to treat water used in banana washing processes, benefiting over two thousand members of the National Federation of Banana Producers of Ecuador (FENAPROPE).

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