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Waste is becoming one of the biggest environmental challenges for wetlands throughout Myanmar. The increased use of plastic packaging, the lack of awareness for the impacts of littering, and the absence of any functioning rural waste management systems have led to un-controlled waste dumping around Indawgyi Lake. Until 2017 none of the villages in Indawgyi had a functioning waste collection system and large festivals, such as the annual Shwe Myitzu Pagoda festival with more than 100,000 visitors, have created massive amounts of waste. Fauna & Flora International (FFI) supported the development of community-based waste management systems in collaboration with local civil society organisations, such as Inn Chit Thu in Lonton village and the Funeral Association ‘Parami’ in Nanmum village. This includes regular awareness campaigns and waste clean-ups, distribution of waste bins, trainings for the development of handicraft from recycled plastic and rubber tubes, construction of landfills outside the flood prone zone, and the introduction of donation/ fee based waste collection systems. FFI also supports civil society organisations, the Shwe Myitzu Pagoda committee, and the General Administration Department to improve the waste management system for the annual pagoda festival.