From October 27th to 29th, Buenos Aires will host a key event for the future of the planet: the ISWA 2025 World Congress. With the participation of representatives from over 50 countries, the focus will be on solid waste and its role in the global environmental crisis. This year’s motto is clear: “Towards a future without waste or a planet with no future.”
Organized by the Argentine Solid Waste Association (ARS) and Messe Frankfurt, the meeting seeks answers to the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The challenge is to move towards concrete solutions from an inclusive and global perspective.
Circular economy, extended producer responsibility, and organic waste treatment are some of the topics on the agenda. Issues such as open-air dumps, textile waste management, and energy recovery will also be addressed. The goal is to build a waste system that does not generate negative impacts and promotes a regenerative economy.
Simultaneously, discussions will focus on financing mechanisms and innovation for sustainable projects. The event will offer workshops and sessions on initiatives like “Too Good To Waste,” promoted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which aims to accelerate the transition to more efficient management.
The link between waste and global warming
One of the central themes of the Congress will be the connection between waste and climate change. Poor waste management generates large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 80 times higher than carbon dioxide.
Although less persistent than CO₂ in the atmosphere, methane accounts for over 25% of the current global warming. Alongside livestock and the oil and mining industries, the accumulation of urban waste is one of its main sources.
Mitigating emissions of this gas is essential to halt the progress of the climate crisis. Therefore, the Congress will provide space for public policies and investments aimed at improving waste collection, separation, and treatment.
Promoting clean technologies, composting, biogas, and renewable energy derived from waste will be part of the explored solutions. These actions could help comply with the Global Methane Pledge: reducing its emissions by at least 30% by 2030.
What is the ISWA World Congress and why does it matter
The ISWA (International Solid Waste Association) World Congress is the most relevant international meeting on solid waste management. It has been held annually since 1972 and in 29 countries. Argentina hosted it for the first time in 2005, and now, two decades later, it does so again.
Its mission is to promote the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and strategies that help improve waste treatment worldwide. It also aims to strengthen cooperation among governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society to advance towards a circular economy.
During the event, spaces for debate will be created with the presence of experts, researchers, environmental leaders, and representatives of multilateral organizations. The sessions will focus on finding concrete solutions to local and global challenges.
Furthermore, the Congress seeks to promote sustainable investments, encourage inclusive policies, and foster responsible production and consumption models. All with a vision towards a cleaner, fairer, and more resilient future.
An opportunity to transform the future
The realization of the Congress in Buenos Aires represents a strategic opportunity for the region. Latin America faces huge challenges in waste management, but it also has innovative initiatives and committed communities.
The event can serve as a catalyst for more effective policies, regional integration, and international cooperation. With available knowledge and adequate political will, it is possible to build a management model that reduces impacts and creates opportunities.
In the face of a climate crisis scenario, every decision matters. How waste is managed can be part of the problem or part of the solution. This Congress invites us to rethink actions and bet on a more habitable planet.
