Municipal solid waste is increasing rapidly worldwide, with the fastest growth occurring in low‑income and lower middle‑income countries. Many cities still struggle to provide basic waste services such as reliable collection, controlled disposal, and basic recycling, leading to serious health, environmental, and climate impacts. At the same time, cities face severe financial and institutional constraints that limit their ability to provide waste management services and move toward circular economy approaches.
To address these challenges, World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) is organizing a Technical Deep Dive (TDD) on Building Robust Solid Waste Management Systems for a Circular Economy from May 25 to 29, 2026, in Tokyo, Hayama, and Kamakura, Japan.
This TDD is designed for World Bank client countries in low‑income and lower middle‑income contexts and focuses on how cities can build robust foundational solid waste management systems while planning for a transition toward circularity. The program brings together policymakers and the World Bank project teams to explore practical solutions that translate waste policies into effective, affordable, and scalable systems.
Key areas of the TDD include strengthening waste governance and policy implementation, designing integrated waste management systems with a strong focus on food waste and human behavior, embedding circular economy principles through data and multi‑stakeholder engagement, and developing sustainable financing and cost‑recovery mechanisms.
Through expert-led sessions, peer‑to‑peer learning, group discussion, operational clinics, and site visits, participants are expected to gain practical knowledge on operating foundational and innovative solid waste systems, identify priority actions tailored to their country contexts, and develop actionable plans linked to ongoing or upcoming World Bank–supported projects.
Key highlights of the TDD include field visits and case studies from Tokyo, Hayama, and Kamakura showcasing Japanese experiences in policy making for cost effective waste management system, participatory approach in waste governance, active community engagement in waste separation and circularity, food waste reduction and recycling, intermunicipal cooperation, and innovative circular economy initiatives.