Programme: Towards a more circular Uruguay (Uruguay + Circular)

Lead: UNDP

Financing:

• GEF: US$ 3 million  
• Co-financing: US$ 33.6 million 

Project duration: 2025 - 2030

Project overview

Uruguay has taken bold steps to move towards a circular economy. The country has introduced forward-looking policies and is developing new measures to make smarter use of materials and boost resource efficiency.

In 2019, Uruguay launched its National Waste Management Plan (PNGR), “Uruguay + Circular”, a milestone that set the national roadmap for circularity. The plan emphasizes upstream solutions such as rethinking product design, circular business models, and changing consumer habits to reduce waste at the source. In September 2019, Uruguay also approved its Circular Economy Action Plan, promoting the productive and innovative socio-economic development of the country. These policies and national plans create fertile ground for innovation, encouraging new business models, local entrepreneurship, and inclusive community-led initiatives. 

Building on this vision, the GEF funded UNDP project “Towards a More Circular Uruguay” aims to translate the National Waste Management Plan and Circular Economy Action Plan priorities into concrete actions. The project’s main objectives include:

• Strengthening institutional, legal, and financial tools to enable the circular transition.
• Applying circular models to key sectors such as food, plastics, vehicles, and construction, with a strong socio-inclusive approach.
• Sharing knowledge and information across society to promote sustainable production and consumption.

Anticipated impact: The project will also deliver measurable environmental impact in supports of Multi-Lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) by eliminating 50 tonnes of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), preventing 6,000 tonnes of plastic waste, and cutting 1 million tonnes of CO₂eq emissions.