In many countries in Asia-Pacific and the Western Balkans, post-harvest residues are traditionally burnt on the fields, whereas fire occurrences on municipal landfills and dumpsites are becoming more frequent due to high content of biowaste and recent temperature increases above monthly averages. These two sources add to the largest contributors to air pollution (industry and energy sectors) placing a significant additional burden on their environments as well as on developing economies with adverse impacts on human health and social-welfare.

This project aims to improve air quality in 3 countries in Asia-Pacific and the Western Balkans by introducing circular economy principles in agriculture and municipal solid waste management, through sharing of best practices and building resilience to health, economic and social shocks. The project provides policy and regulatory support services to target countries to detect and reduce the air pollution from agriculture and waste management high-emitting-impact sectors by strengthening national capacities to develop relevant policies, divert valuable resources from fields and landfills, and plan and design early warning systems to inform citizens when there are peak pollution incidents resulting from waste incineration. The project also strengthens the evidence base for informed decision making through air quality monitoring, targeted assessments and sector specific interventions such as mapping the hotspots and defining preventive measures.

At the end of project interventions, countries will be able to generate, access, analyse, use, exchange and communicate relevant information, while further upgrading existing and promoting new green and cost-effective policy solutions to sound agricultural and municipal waste management and air pollution.