The Governance Lab brought together 14 regional, provincial, and district candidates to review evidence on recycling and weigh in on specific decisions within their areas of jurisdiction. The exercise yielded 48 affirmative responses and identified 45 priorities for initiating or implementing public policies on solid waste during their first 100 days in office.
Arequipa, September 16, 2026. The 14 candidates who participated in the Government Lab from Recycling Pact – AQP Vision 2030 They joined the initiative after evaluating specific measures to promote recycling at the regional, provincial, and district levels.
Unlike a general statement, each candidate was able to indicate, for each proposal put forward, whether they would support it, whether it required further evaluation, or whether they would not support it; and to also identify which ones they considered priorities to initiate or implement during their first 100 days. In total, there were 48 affirmative decisions and were prioritized 45 policies to support local solid waste management.
The meeting took as its starting point the AQP Vision 2030, which proposes moving forward from around the 2% to 13% of recovered waste by 2030, which would allow for the recovery of more than 37,000 metric tons additional ones per year.
“After working directly on these issues and finding concrete evidence, the next step is to ensure that this evidence reaches those who will have the authority to make decisions in the coming years,” he said Milagros Bernales, manager of TechnoServe's Arequipa Green Jobs project.
“The issue isn’t just how much it costs us to clean up. The issue is how much value we’re failing to capitalize on in Arequipa,” he said Leopoldo Macera, co-founder of Libélula. “That value can generate economic growth, jobs, and better opportunities for people working in the recycling sector.”.
Results by Level of Government
At the level regional, the three participating candidates stated that they would promote the three proposed measures: adopting the 13% as a regional benchmark, mobilizing resources and cooperation, and supporting Arequipa in the progressive adoption of the National Circular Economy Roadmap. All of these were also identified as 100-day priorities.
At the level provincial, the candidates agreed on updating the provincial recycling framework. On the other three measures, there were differing positions regarding enforcement, information on resource recovery, and reducing the amount of recyclable waste sent to landfills.
At the level district, there was broad agreement on strengthening oversight, integrating and empowering large waste generators—such as markets, condominiums, businesses, and institutions—and securing funding to support waste recovery efforts. Eight out of nine respondents also supported updating the rules for waste separation and selective collection.
From Evidence to Decisions
The proposals discussed are based on an assessment of the Arequipa Green Jobs project, which systematized 92 findings identified in seven municipal entities of the 18 municipalities that have the Recicla Program; these cover topics such as regulations, budgeting, operations, oversight, the market, information, and coordination.
The Laboratory sought to translate this evidence into decisions tailored to specific areas of responsibility: the Regional Government provides the framework, the Provincial Municipality coordinates, and the districts carry out the work on the ground.
The Pact remains open
The Recycling Pact – AQP 2030 Vision remains open to regional, provincial, and district applicants who wish to join.
Interested candidates may apply online at: tinyurl.com/PactoReciclaje.
After the elections, the initiative will seek to follow up on the commitments, decisions, and actions with the elected officials and gradually involve businesses, universities, waste pickers’ organizations, trade associations, and other stakeholders in the local value chain.
