2025 Local Leaders Climate Awards / Sustainable Waste Solutions
Winners: Sustainable Waste Solutions
Slashing waste, creating jobs, and keeping pollution out of landfills
Quezon City and Salvador were announced as winners of the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Local Leaders Climate Awards on November 4, 2025 at the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro.
WINNER: QUEZON CITY
From Waste to Worth: The Quezon City Trash to Cashback Program
Launched in 2021 during COVID-19, the Trash to Cashback program addresses mounting waste challenges and provides alternative livelihoods for vulnerable communities in the Philippines’ most populous city. In partnership with Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies, Inc., the city established collection points where residents trade recyclables and single-use plastics for Environmental Points redeemable for bills or groceries. As of June 2025, the program diverted over 639,500 kg of waste valued at more than 2.1 million EPs from landfills and waterways. The program earned global recognition as a Best Practice by ICDI and ICLEI, contributing to Mayor Joy Belmonte’s recognition as a 2023 UN Champion of the Earth.
WINNER: SALVADOR
Recicla Capital
Recicla Capital is an innovative program by the City of Salvador focused on urban sustainability, social inclusion, and the circular economy, expanding selective waste collection through public incentives and technology. Recycling cooperatives operate 20 strategically located containers across the city with monthly compensation ensuring financial stability, while the city provides logistics operations and management. A mobile app allows residents to earn points for delivering recyclables, redeemable for food, cleaning products, courses, and items at participating businesses. The program strengthens Salvador’s position as a leader in environmental policy, uniting innovation, social justice, and ecological responsibility while valuing waste picker work and directly contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
FINALIST: CERRO NAVIA
Cerro Navia Food Bank
The Cerro Navia Food Bank is Chile’s first municipal initiative combating food waste and strengthening food security by coordinating a network of private companies, street markets, and social organizations. Launched in 2019, the project rescues products fit for consumption but unsellable for commercial or aesthetic reasons, delivering them to 15 soup kitchens, two community kitchens, and over 40 microbanks. The initiative promotes responsible consumption practices through sustainable cooking workshops and environmental education for adults and children. Fruits and vegetables unsuitable for consumption are donated to the Municipal Nursery, which transforms them into worm humus through vermiculture processes for composting trees and flowers throughout the community.
FINALIST: ABAETETUBA
Sustainability Complex Of The Municipality Of Abaetetuba – CSMA
The Sustainability Complex integrates environmental preservation, community education, and responsible natural resource management through three complementary components working together. The Green Room serves as a space for environmental education offering workshops and activities encouraging community participation in building sustainability culture. The Waste Sorting Plant optimizes recyclable materials management, reducing landfill waste and promoting socioeconomic inclusion of waste pickers while contributing to the circular economy. The Agroforestry Nursery produces native and fruit seedlings supporting reforestation projects, degraded area recovery, and family farming strengthening, establishing a virtuous cycle combining education, waste management, and forest production.
2025 Local Leaders Climate Awards
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More from Bloomberg Philanthropies at COP30
COP30 Local Leaders Forum
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil