Officials and experts from more than 100 countries are meeting in Manila as the Philippines hosts the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) first High-Level Forum on Nuclear Technology for Controlling Plastic Pollution. The two-day event, which opened Tuesday, Nov. 25, aims to advance nuclear solutions to the global plastic waste crisis.
The forum is the IAEA’s inaugural global gathering on using radiation technologies to improve recycling, strengthen waste management, and monitor microplastics in oceans and coastal waters.
The event highlights Philippine-led projects under the IAEA’s NUTEC Plastics initiative, including the Post-Radiation Reactive Extrusion (PREx) project.
A prototype house in Quezon City, built with these materials, to be unveiled at the PNRI as part of the forum to demonstrate how upcycled plastics can support housing and community needs.
The Philippines generates some of the world’s highest levels of plastic waste, much of it ending up in rivers, coastal areas, and fishing grounds. Microplastics have been detected across the archipelago, prompting expanded monitoring by Philippine laboratories using IAEA-supported, standardized global methods.
Organizers said the forum aims to foster partnerships, attract investment, and promote technology transfer to scale nuclear-enabled recycling and environmental monitoring. Technical sessions, exhibitions, and discussions will guide participants in forming collaborations and advancing science-based solutions. A segment will highlight youth engagement in nuclear and environmental innovation.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi is attending the forum, marking his first official visit to the Philippines.
The event is organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Science and Technology, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, and the IAEA.
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