Waste Wise Asia-Pacific is an informal network of organisations and individuals, dedicated to promoting Solid Waste Management(SWM) policies which are environmentally friendly and socially responsible.

The Asian region has witnessed dramatic and widespread changes due to the forces of globalisation, industrialisation and urbanisation. This has affected almost every sphere of life, lifestyle and habitat, current economic and industrial policies have created a complex web of problems that question the sustainability of life. Furthermore, the area has large national and regional concerns of poverty and environmental changes. Solid Waste Management is an area that deserves immediate regional attention.

Given the magnitude of problem and the portent it holds, there is a need to address this issue at the regional level as well as the local level. As a region, all of us share many similar characteristics. Secondly, environmental and social problems do cross national boundaries and have regional impact.

Changes in lifestyle, waste related behavior and public policy will not happen without the concerted effort of all stakeholders in the region. The time has come for us to go beyond national/ regional boundaries and seek alliances, to network with others and bring about more widespread changes. There is a need to activate local processes, energise people and institutions, towards process visibility of policies and practices related to waste.

The network that is being evolved is neither an end nor a programme managed by an organisation. It is an alliance building exercise that will create a dynamism and process of its own. The support of others is integral.

The essence of the network is a process, which enables concepts to translate to actions, and as a meaningful manifestation of people's participation in civil society.