Latin America Targets 10,000 Dumps to Slash Methane by 2040

Latin America and the Caribbean are turning a massive pollution problem into a climate solution with a bold new regional partnership.

Environment ministers from across the region committed to closing more than 10,000 active open dumps and slashing methane emissions from waste by 2040. The program, launched in March 2026, addresses a staggering challenge: 45% of municipal waste currently receives no proper management, releasing methane uncontrollably into the atmosphere.

The numbers reveal both the problem and the opportunity. Organic waste makes up half of all trash in these countries, yet less than 3% gets recycled or composted. Instead, it sits rotting in open dumps, producing methane that's 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in warming the planet over 20 years.

The solution takes a comprehensive approach. Countries will strengthen waste management laws, build institutional capacity, and most importantly, mobilize financing to transform how the region handles organic waste. The program focuses on preventing waste creation in the first place, recovering valuable materials, and improving disposal infrastructure where needed.

This initiative emerged from the Forum of Ministers of the Environment, with support from the United Nations Environment Programme and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. It represents a rare moment of unified action across Latin America and the Caribbean on a shared environmental threat.

The Ripple Effect

The benefits extend far beyond climate goals. Closing open dumps protects communities living nearby from toxic pollution and health hazards. Better waste management creates jobs in recycling and composting. Countries can redirect resources currently spent managing pollution toward building sustainable infrastructure.

The program offers a menu of solutions countries can adapt to local needs, from technical assistance to financial resources. Nations will share knowledge, best practices, and joint initiatives, accelerating progress through cooperation rather than each country working alone.

By tackling methane from waste, the region addresses one of the fastest ways to slow near-term warming. Methane reductions show results within years, not decades, making this program a powerful climate action tool with immediate impact.

The 2040 vision is clear: a region where organic waste becomes a resource, not a pollutant, and where no community lives downwind from an open dump poisoning the air.