ISWA World Congress 2025 - Re-imagine waste - "Towards a wasteless future or a wasteful planet?"

The ISWA World Congress is one of the leading global gatherings on sustainable waste management and circular economy.

Each year, it brings together waste specialists, government representatives, industry actors, and researchers to exchange technical knowledge and advance solutions for safer, more efficient, and more sustainable waste systems worldwide.

GAHP’s Presentation

At the 2025 Congress in Buenos Aires (October 27 - 29), the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP) presented its circular economy approach to managing Used Lead-Acid Batteries (ULABs) in the MERCOSUR region.

Although lead-acid batteries are among the most recycled products globally, a large portion is still handled informally, where batteries are dismantled and smelted under unsafe conditions. 

This leads to high levels of lead contamination in surrounding communities, affecting air, soil, and household environments, and posing significant health risks, especially for children.

In her presentation, Dr. Lilian Corra (GAHP Senior Advisor) highlighted the following:

• The health and environmental risks caused by informal ULABs recycling.

• The importance of multi-sectorial coordination across MERCOSUR.

• Use of data and lead mass-balance analysis to inform decisions.

• Promoting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to ensure safe ULAB return and recycling

• The high economic and health costs of lead exposure globally.

• Policy progress in Brazil, supporting regulated circular recycling systems.

This approach demonstrates how waste management and health goals can be aligned by improving ULAB recycling systems, reducing lead exposure, and protecting communities, while also supporting material recovery and circular resource use.