September 2026—The central objective of the LAC meeting was to strengthen regional coordination, celebrate collective lessons learned, and establish shared strategic priorities to guide our joint work in the coming years toward environmental justice and zero waste.
In the first part of the day, participants collectively reflected on the political, social, and environmental realities of the different countries. Discussion sessions were organized on topics related to zero waste in educational settings, pyrolysis, and organic waste, followed by a celebration of the milestones that have marked our work since we last met in Lima in 2023.
For Karla Escoto of Basura Cero Nicaragua, “Being part of this gathering has been rewarding and rejuvenating. These gatherings not only allow us to exchange experiences and share the actions being taken by each of the organizations working toward zero waste, but they also enable us to have that direct contact, to humanize our actions, to share, to rethink our approaches, and to know that despite the different circumstances and contexts in each country, we continue to make progress from our own communities, working hand in hand with young people, local communities, and grassroots waste pickers.”
Other important opportunities included training sessions led by the members themselves and discussions centered on the region’s strategic priorities, with the aim of making progress on common goals that will guide our joint work in the coming years and recognize the capabilities that exist within the alliance.
“The gathering reaffirmed the value of sharing what we do in our communities. We were able to share the experience of León Cortés, but also to listen to and learn from other organizations in the region. That exchange strengthens our work and reminds us that, even though our territories are different, we can learn from one another.” said Julia Picado of the Asociación Defensores del Monumento Natural Zona de los Santos in Costa Rica.
The three-day gathering concluded in a festive atmosphere with a “causes fair,” where organizations presented the work they are carrying out in their territories. The shared experiences provided a better understanding of the diversity of work that sustains the movement and the various ways in which organizations are advancing environmental justice and zero-waste initiatives.
For Tania Ricaldi of CESU-UMSS in Bolivia, “The Santiago Gathering was a space for dialogue, listening, and mutual learning that allowed us to share experiences with zero-waste practices. These experiences show that through local action, solidarity, and creativity, we are building and rebuilding relationships and transformations that are essential for the care of life.”
The Santiago meeting will be remembered as a moment to celebrate what has been achieved and to outline the steps needed to develop strategies that will enable progress toward new goals and reinforce the achievements already made.
