I hope this finds you well in the midst of uncertain times for many.

As the world navigates political and economic changes, Delterra is not immune to these events. We have seen companies missing their sustainability targets, political leaders walking back environmental commitments and the already limited funding in this space getting even smaller.

But we are heartened by the unwavering support of our current partners and the real, tangible impact that they are enabling. 

We hope that you will be inspired by the good news stories, below, of how Delterra is making real change that is affecting real lives. Whether it’s a single mother who now as a stable job and benefits in the recycling industry in Argentina or a village leader in Indonesia who is making good on his commitment to clean up waste in the environment, Delterra is turning global commitments into local action.

Now more than ever, we need innovative solutions and collaborative efforts to drive real change at scale. Thank you for your continued support as we work toward these goals.

With gratitude,
Shannon Bouton 
President & CEO, Delterra

A milestone achievement in Badung, Indonesia

We recently celebrated the successful completion and handover of the our Rethinking Recycling program in five villages in the Regency of Badung, Indonesia! This is major indicator of the sustainability of Delterra’s work when it becomes embedded in governments’ ongoing operations.

Since 2023, Delterra has been working with the villages of Jagapati, Darmasaba, Mengwi, Carangsari, and Cemagi. This program includes activities such as:

• Household behavior change education to separate recyclables and organics from residual waste.
• Improving and streamlining the operations at village recycling center.
• Providing training and upskilling to waste workers.

Delterra has also assisted these villages in integrating organic waste processing at a centralized facility in the village of Mengwitani. As of January 2025, the five villages have collected almost 100 tons of organic waste and educated over 4,000 households and community members.

As part of the handover, Badung has committed to establishing regular coordination with the villages to further improve waste services. Delterra will continue to engage policy stakeholders, communities, and the private sector. This is a wonderful example of how effective waste management can be achieved when all parties play their part responsibly.

Our learning and recommendations for scaling circular municipal waste

Nearly five years ago, with support from the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) and Amcor, Delterra began working with the City of Olavarría, Argentina, to demonstrate that it is possible to transform a municipality’s waste management system into a more circular model. The goal was to achieve this in a way that significantly increases the amount of material recycled, is as cost-effective as possible, and can be scaled to other cities.

Olavarría is now one of the most circular cities in Argentina and has taken full ownership of the program. We learned a lot over these years, which has informed our scaling into other cities. We hope what we have learned will be valuable to others working to transform municipal waste and recycling systems. Here are our six recommendations.

How a Brazilian city is pioneering the circular economy

Recicleiros and Delterra have beem working together to implement innovative approaches in Brazil. starting by improving recycling participation and recovery rates in the citu of Guaxupé. This public-private partnership serves as a model for how cities in the Global South can successfully build capacity for sustainable waste management systems.

One creative aspect of the project is its integration with Guaxupé’s dengue prevention campaign. By collaborating with community health agents who conduct regular home visits, the initiative links recycling efforts to public health. These agents, leveraging their trusted relationships with residents, encourage proper waste separation, emphasizing that correctly disposing of recyclable materials helps eliminate mosquito breeding sites.

In this program, with the support of  Alliance to End Plastic Waste, the entire city has experienced a significant increase in the volume of recyclables recovered. Read more about this innovative partnership in this article from EcoAmericas 🎙

Excited for what´s to come…

• The first low-value plastic washing plant operated by women in Argentina

We don’t just recycle waste; we transform lives. With the support of Beiersdorf and their ¨Women in Circularity project¨; and in collaboration with Cooperativa Baires and the Buenos Aires City Government, we have established the first low-value plastic washing plan operated by women. The soon to be opened plant will be managed and operated by 12 women, marking a significant step toward a more sustainable and inclusive future. Thank you to Beiersdorf and all of Delterra’s strategic partners for making this possible.

• Exciting progress reducing organic waste in Brazil 

Over the past year, Delterra undertook a competitive process to select the cities we would support to tackle organic waste management in Brazil. After extensive review, site visits and meetings with over 30 cities, we are excited to announce the cities we will be supporting: Arapiraca (Alagoas), Contagem (Minas Gerais) and Florianópolis (Santa Catarina). Supported by UNEP’s Climate and Clean Air Coalition, this initiative seeks to reduce the amount of organic waste ending up in landfills, thereby combatting climate change caused by highly potent methane emissions. This collaboration is all about building a strong network where we can learn from each other and grow together. By working with such different cities, we will gain valuable insights into the impact of different approaches.

More from Delterra

The Six Dimensions of Circular Waste Management

To support cities in making smart investments to divert their waste into the circular economy, Delterra implements six interdependent dimensions of a comprehensive and holistic waste management system.

This framework has been designed to break down the ambiguity of the transition to the circular economy in the waste management and recycling sectors.

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