The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Waste Management Outlook has been launched under the framework of the Forum of Ministers of Environment for LAC, in a press conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 9 October 2018. According to the Outlook, a third of all waste generated in cities of LAC ends up in open dumps or in the environment, polluting soil, water and air, and threatening the health of the population. As one of the main messages of the report, UN Environment urges countries to progressively close dumpsites. The publication also highlights areas of opportunity for the region, such as the special management of organic waste and the potential of the circular economy principles.
The mandate of IETC, as agreed in Decision 16/34 of UNEP Governing Council, is the transfer of environmentally sound technologies (EST) to developing countries and countries with economies in transition.