Plastic smart cities adds four new projects

To prevent plastics from continuing to pollute our planet, we need to focus on the development of systemic waste management solutions both at the global and local level. Faced with limited resources, rapid population growth, and fragmented waste systems, local governments are on the front lines of the plastic pollution crisis—and often bear the greatest burden of its impacts. WWF’s Plastic Smart Cities (PSC) is a global movement of cities committed to achieve zero plastic leakage in nature. Since 2018, the initiative has supported cities and coastal centers in taking bold action to stop plastic pollution, with a goal to reduce plastic leakage by 30% in the near term and achieving no plastics in nature by 2030. By addressing leakage points at the local level, PSC also works to prove implementation for scaling and replication and to create a global movement and knowledge platform to strengthen systemic change.

Working on the ground with cities, coastal centers and tourism hotspots across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and the Mediterranean, PSC works closely with civil society groups, NGOs, businesses and communities. PSC is also supported by corporations, intergovernmental agencies, and research institutions with funding and technical knowledge. The projects focus on:

1. Reduction/Reuse: Eliminating harmful and avoidable plastics.
2. Separate/Collect: Building effective collection and separation systems.
3. Recycle/Recover: Closing the loop on plastic waste by circulating plastics in value chains through recycling.

Thanks to a new $3 million grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation, four Plastic Smart Cities projects have been launched in 2025 across Mexico, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia—and will run through 2028. This investment not only aims to power local action but also seeks to strengthen the global PSC program by supporting cross-country learning, the development of shared tools and resources, strengthening capacity of local governments on waste management, and continued operation of a global online monitoring and evaluation platform.

According to Jeff Denby, Senior Director, The Coca-Cola Foundation, “joining forces with the Plastic Smart Cities program reflects our belief in collaborative approaches to helping solve plastic waste challenges. We chose to support this initiative because it offers practical, locally-adaptable strategies emphasizing community-led solutions in high-impact areas. Through this $3 million commitment, we are investing in the development of scalable models that target critical urban zones, strengthen waste management systems, and drive measurable reduction in plastic waste. This partnership is important to supporting The Coca-Cola Foundation’s vision to reduce packaging waste while encouraging cities to become part of the solution to global plastic pollution.”

Read more about each project below.

Indonesia: Yogyakarta Plastic-Free Universities

Universities in Yogyakarta produce 192 tons of waste per day, that’s 38% of urban waste of the city. In response, PSC will work with universities to reduce the plastic production start from the source. The project will select six universities as pilots to educate, campaign, and improve the solid waste management system on campus. The pilots will be used as a model to scale across all Yogyakarta universities through city-wide policy adoption.

Malaysia: Semporna Priority Conservation Area (PCA)

The Semporna Priority Conservation Area (PCA) is a marine biodiversity hotspot facing severe plastic pollution due to inadequate waste management and tourism. PSC is collaborating with local communities and tourism operators to develop and successfully implement 3 island-based waste management plans. The project is also working on community-driven development of a longer-term public-private partnership financing model. The focus areas include separation and collection, as well as recycling.

Mexico: Guadalajara Area Green Points

In the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, nine neighborhoods will be designated as Green Points, each serving a walkable 800m radius for local waste collection and separation. Data will be collected to establish a baseline on patterns of waste collection. The PSC team will identify barriers to use for Green Point facilities and strategies to remove them to increase plastic collection, recovery, and prevent plastic leakage into nature. The team will also generate proof-points and lessons to share with other municipalities for neighborhood-level waste collection. Focus areas include separation and collection.

Thailand: Surat Thani

In Thailand’s Surat Thani’s river-side communities, waste is often dumped into the river or openly burned, while waste collectors, known as Saleng, remain unrecognized with limited municipal capacity to help. PSC will work to expand Saleng Association membership, provide trainings, and integrate human rights framework while advocating for a national Saleng association model. The team will also formalize partnerships with three new material recovery facilities (MRFs) . Finally, they will work to develop partnerships with stakeholders in the waste management supply chain to explore market opportunities for low-value plastics (LVPs). The focus areas include separation and collection.