Vientiane, Lao PDR, 27 June 2024: The Government of Lao PDR hosted a Site Visit to a community-based waste recycling bank and recycling facility in Vientiane. The attendees included representatives from the ASEAN Member States, dialogue and development partners, the SEA-MaP PMU and RISU, and the World Bank. The SEA-MaP Regional Project proudly supported the facilitation of this event.

During the site visit, participants visited two locations. The first stop was Hounghueang Primary-Secondary School, which operates a waste bank to promote recycling and educate students about sustainable living practices, including waste segregation methods and homemade fertilizer production. The second stop was the Chantha Recycling Facility, which serves as a middleman between waste producers and recycling companies. Local schools in Vientiane have teamed up with the facility to provide waste for further recycling.

The Site Visit provided an excellent opportunity for participants to witness local efforts in action to promote the ASEAN sustainability agenda through knowledge exchange and learning about various methods employed by the local community in recycling and increasing the value of plastic materials. The activities at both sites are supported by the World Bank and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in Lao PDR.

This event was part of the SEA-MaP Regional Project’s activities and was organized alongside the 25th Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Coastal and Marine Environment (AWGCME) held on 24 – 27 June 2024, in Vientiane, Lao PDR.