Despite being enacted for over two decades, the implementation of Republic Act 9003, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, remains to be a challenge. Technical and financial limitations have often been cited as bottlenecks in the implementation. Furthermore, over recent years, plastic pollution has been a global concern and has therefore received increased attention. In a recent publication of the World Bank Group, Asia has been reported to contribute more than 80% of global marine litter, with the Philippines already accounting for about 0.75 million tons of said waste.

Apart from the negative environmental consequences, the World Bank also estimates an annual opportunity cost of approximately USD 80-120 billion for the global economy due to the lack of recycling and sub-optimal value generation with only 9% recycled. Clearly, the widely used linear economy model of the "take-make-dispose" approach is unsustainable. This will ultimately result in resource depletion, excessive waste, and environmental degradation. Recognizing the urgency of the matter, waste management and improving recovery rates of materials have become a priority area in the Philippines.

As such, the ECCP is pleased to organize its Waste Management Forum which hopes to bring together stakeholders to understand the current state of waste management in the Philippines and how we can jointly reverse the escalating waste problem. This will also discuss what immediate and medium- to long-term actions are needed to avoid a waste crisis, especially with the growing volume of medical wastes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. It also leads participants to discover opportunities for establishing partnerships focused on solving concerns surrounding waste management. to address the growing volume of wastes in the Philippines.