Cities100: Quito - Creating Electricity and Compost from Organic Waste

Quito is reducing emissions and changing the definition of waste by generating clean energy, creating compost, and recycling paper and cardboard as part of the Organic Waste and Climate Change project.

The Challenge

In Quito, an average of 1,877 tons of waste is sent to the Inga landfill per year, accounting for 13% of the city’s carbon footprint. Sixty percent of waste in Inga landfill is organic, and its decomposition results in the generation of methane, contributing to climate change. By recycling, composting, and generating biogas through the Organic Waste and Climate Change project, Quito is reducing emissions and giving waste a new purpose.

The Solution

Under its Development and Land Use Plan, in 2015 Quito launched an integrated waste management project based on the concept of a circular economy, while encouraging social and environmental co-responsibility. The Organic Waste and Climate Change project has three elements: generate 5 MW of electricity by 2017 with landfill biogas, process 12 million tons of organic waste into compost through the construction of a municipal organic waste processing plant, and improve paper and cardboard recycling by means of waste recovery, processing, and commercialization. The project aims to achieve a 33% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from waste, which is equivalent to approximately 300,000 tons of CO2, by 2017. Citizen engagement is key to the project’s success, and has been carried out using a combination of outreach campaigns, public meetings, environmental forums, and social media. Information about the project has been made open and transparent for everyone, aiming to include all sectors of society in decision-making.

Environmental Benefits – Since 2015, 37,723 tons of paper and cardboard have been recycled through the project, preventing CO2 emissions from future logging and production.

Social Benefits – The project will link 280 small-scale recyclers, a vulnerable sector of the population, ensuring access to minimum wage.

Economic Benefits – The waste market is expected to expand, with 13,249 new jobs for material traders arising through the project.

Health Benefits – By diverting waste from the landfill, the project improves the hygiene of municipal markets, reducing the risk of infections

About Cities100

In its second year, Cities100 – presented by C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), Sustainia and Realdania – showcases leading solutions to urban climate challenges in ten sectors, ranging from solid waste management to transportation. For the first time, this year’s publication features solutions that address the nexus of climate change and social equity.

Available online and in print, Cities100 provides stakeholders an accessible format to explore achievable solutions for climate action in cities, and will be a useful tool for relevant groups ranging from impact investors and development organizations, to mayors and city governments.  You can access the full Cities100 2016 publication online here and read more about how may­ors will de­liver the aims of the Paris Agree­ment in a fore­ward by Anne Hidalgo, C40 Chair and Mayor of Paris, here.