The Sixth session of the Working Party on PPPs from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has adopted a second document contributing to the cross-cutting theme of the 69th session of the ECE on the circular economy transition titled:
“Guidelines on Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Waste Management” a landmark policy document that outlines principles and practices to support governments and stakeholders in structuring effective, transparent, and environmentally sound PPPs in the waste sector.

We are proud to share that Prof. A.C. (Thanos) Bourtsalas served as a co-author of the report. Prof. Nickolas J. Themelis, and Reda Kabbaj, Members of WtERT, were also among the contributing experts during the report development process.

Key Highlights from the UNECE Guidelines:

• Purpose: Provide practical guidance to governments and private sector actors on designing and implementing PPPs in the waste management sector that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Scope: Covers the full waste value chain, from collection and transport, to treatment, recovery, and final disposal with special emphasis on the importance of residual waste treatment infrastructure.

• Sustainability Focus: Promotes PPP models that ensure:
  • Environmental integrity (including landfill diversion and climate mitigation),
  • Financial and operational sustainability, and
  • Social inclusiveness.

• Recommendations include:

  • Strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks for PPPs;
  • Encouraging long-term contracts that ensure stability for both public and private actors;
  • Integrating circular economy principles in project design;
  • Supporting capacity building and transparency in procurement and operations.

WtERT’s Role in Advancing Sustainable Waste Infrastructure:

WtERT remains committed to supporting evidence-based, technologically advanced, and socially responsible waste management strategies worldwide. Through its collaboration with UNECE and other multilateral agencies, WtERT contributes scientific expertise and international experience to shape public-private frameworks that can accelerate sustainable infrastructure development.

We invite all stakeholders, governments, industry actors, researchers, and international organizations, to consult the full UNECE guidelines and consider its recommendations when planning or evaluating PPPs in the waste sector.

Read the UNECE “Guidelines on PPPs for the SDGs in Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Projects for Non-Recyclable Waste: Pathways towards a Circular Economy“ with:

• 7 practical recommendations to ensure that PPP WTE projects are “fit for purpose” for the SDGs;
• The role of Waste-to-Energy in integrated waste management systems for the circular economy;
• PPPs for the SDGs approach to WTE projects in the Circular Economy.

Access the full UNECE Guidelines on PPPs for Sustainable Waste Management: