Antalya: As preparations gather pace for COP31, delegates at the Road to Antalya: Zero Waste as Climate Action forum in Türkiye called for a broader approach to waste management, arguing that zero waste should be treated as a climate, resource efficiency and sustainable production strategy rather than being limited to recycling.
Representatives from around 183 countries stressed that tackling waste requires addressing its root causes, including overproduction, product design, reuse systems and producer responsibility, instead of focusing solely on collection, recycling and disposal.
Speaking at the forum, Zero Waste Forum President and COP31 Climate High Level Champion Samed Ağırbaş said zero waste is about managing production and consumption patterns, not just waste management and recycling.
Participants highlighted that landfill and incineration cannot be considered zero waste solutions and called for greater emphasis on preventing waste generation at source. Discussions also linked zero-waste strategies with negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty, where reducing plastic production and promoting sustainable product design are emerging as key priorities.
The discussions come as India continues to expand its petrochemical sector through new refinery and industrial projects while policy measures remain largely focused on waste collection, recycling and end-of-life management.
Experts at the forum noted that large-scale investments in petrochemical infrastructure could create long-term dependence on virgin plastic production, making future transitions toward more resource-efficient systems more challenging.
The forum also highlighted zero waste as a strategy to strengthen resource security by reducing dependence on imported raw materials. Greater reuse, repair, composting and material recovery can lower demand for virgin resources while contributing to climate mitigation and economic resilience.
Delegates pointed to India’s significant organic waste stream, which accounts for about 61% of municipal waste, as an opportunity to expand composting and biogas production, improving soil health and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers.
The discussions concluded that achieving meaningful climate action will require shifting from managing waste after it is created to redesigning production and consumption systems that minimise waste generation from the outset.