Join Us | What a Waste 3.0 Report Launch Event – May 29, 2026

From Global Evidence to Practical Action for Cities

To mark the release of What a Waste 3.0, the World Bank Group’s latest flagship report on municipal solid waste management, the World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) will host a public launch event bringing together Japanese and international experts to discuss how cities can respond to the growing global waste challenge. The report places waste management at the heart of the transition toward a circular economy and highlights both Japan’s strengths and the urgent actions needed worldwide.

The event will feature key findings from What a Waste 3.0, presented by Kremena Ionkova, Global Lead for Solid Waste Management and Circularity at the World Bank, followed by an introduction to the Waste‑to‑Energy Technical Note by Rieko Kubota, Senior Program Officer at TDLC. The program will also include presentations on Japan’s leadership in scalable solid waste management (SWM) solutions, as well as scalable SWM solutions in Southeast Asia led by the World Bank, bringing together policy and implementation perspectives from the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, JICA, and World Bank specialists. The event offers a timely opportunity for Japanese policymakers, municipal practitioners, private‑sector actors, and researchers to engage with global evidence and practical solutions for the future of urban waste management.

Event Details

■ Date: Friday, May 29, 2026

■ Time: 15:00–17:05 (JST) Registration starts from 14:30.

■ Format: Hybrid (in‑person and online)

■ Venue: Hibiya Fort Tower, 11F Hibiya Sky Conference, Room A (Access) *Please note that the venue has been changed from the original annoucement.

■ Online meeting Link: Please join from Zoom Link.

■ Language: English and Japanese (simultaneous interpretation)

■ Registration: Please register for the event using the link below.

[Register here]

*Please note that seats, particularly for onsite participation, are limited and registration may close once capacity is reached.

Program Highlights

The detailed agenda will be shared soon, and speakers are subject to change. Please check this page for updates.

• Presentation of key findings from What a Waste 3.0 by the lead author, Kremena Ionkova, Global Lead for Solid Waste Management and Circularity, World Bank

• Introduction of the Waste to energy technical note by Rieko Kubota, Senior Program Officer at World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center

• Perspectives on Japan’s role and experience in advancing circular economy solutions by Ministry of Environment, Japan (MOEJ)

• Presentation on scalable solid waste management (SWM) solutions

  • Japan’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework for plastics and packaging – policy design and enforcement lessons by MOEJ
  • Japanese SWM solutions scaled in African countries – implementation experience and lessons learnedby Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
  • Scalable SWM solutions in Southeast Asia by World Bank

• Networking reception for onsite participants, providing an opportunity to connect with speakers, experts, and peers across sectors (17:10-18:00)