​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​AIT RRCAP at the 25th ASEAN Partners Coordination Meeting on Coastal and Marine Environment (AWGCME)

Upon the invitation of the ASEAN Working Group on Coastal and Marine Environment (AWGCME), the Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific at Asian Institute of Technology (AIT RRC.AP) participated in a regional meeting to present ongoing projects aimed at preventing plastic pollution in the marine environment. Representing the Centre, Solomon Huno, Senior Programme Officer of the Waste and Resource Management Cluster, shared significant insights from the Phase 1 project on the Development and Dissemination of Technical Guidelines for Preventing Plastics and Resin Pellets Leakage from Formal and Informal Recycling Factories. He emphasized that the situation assessment reports, and technical guideline documents developed during this phase will serve as foundational materials for capacity building and knowledge sharing in Phase 2 of the project.​​

The Phase 2 initiative, titled “Capacity Building Programme for Reducing Recycling Related Plastic Leakage to Marine Environment” (The CaRMPAC Project), aims to build on the outcomes of Phase 1 by addressing gaps and enhancing the capacities of national and local government officials. The focus will be on training, supervising, monitoring, and providing necessary support to both formal and informal recycling facilities to improve recycling processes and prevent plastic leakage. The project also targets the informal recycling sector, aiming to raise awareness and capacity to prevent plastic leakage.

The CaRMPAC project will be implemented in 12 cities across six ASEAN Member States and is funded by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia-Regional Knowledge Center for Marine Plastic Debris (ERIA RKC-MPD). This initiative underscores AIT RRC.AP's commitment to collaborative efforts in mitigating marine plastic pollution and fostering sustainable waste management practices in the ASEAN region. ​