CommunityGuimarãesGuimarães: on track to be Portugal's first Zero Waste certified cityThe city that could change Portugal's waste map Guimarães, a UNESCO World Heritage city of around 160,000 people in northern Portugal, is the country's leading Zero Waste candidate: expected to achieve full ZWE Zero Waste Cities certification in 2026. Working with ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável, Guimarães is building the collection infrastructure, resident participation culture, and political commitment needed to become a national landmark for sustainable waste management. What the candidacy involves - Implementation of separate door-to-door collection for all main fractions - Community composting and organic waste diversion - Local plastic prevention policies and reuse promotion - Regular monitoring and public reporting of waste reduction results Why it matters for Portugal Portugal currently sends 60 % of its municipal solid waste to landfill: one of the highest rates in Western Europe. Guimarães's certification would give the country its first credible proof point that a different path is achievable, and would directly inspire other candidate municipalities (Albergaria-a-Velha, Corvo, São João da Madeira, Vila de Rei) currently in the pipeline. How to get involved - If you live in Guimarães, follow the municipal environmental office for participation opportunities in the Zero Waste programme - Follow ZERO for certification updates and policy advocacy tools - Ask your local councillor how your municipality can begin the ZW candidacy process Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. - National coordinator: ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável - ZWE certification programme: Zero Waste Cities - Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th editioncandidatecertificationplanningdoor-to-door
CommunityLuxembourgGreen Events logo: 364 events, 250,000 people, no single-use packagingA country that made reuse the norm at every public gathering Oekozenter Pafendall and SuperDrecksKëscht coordinate the Green Events programme across approximately 40 Luxembourg municipalities. In 2024, 364 public events: village fairs, cultural programmes, sports events: received the Green Events logo, covering nearly 250,000 attendees without single-use food and drink packaging. What Green Events certification requires - Elimination of single-use plastic, cardboard, and other disposable packaging for food and drink service - Use of reusable dishware or certified compostable alternatives where reuse is logistically impossible - A written sustainability plan submitted by the event organiser before the logo is awarded - Post-event reporting to verify compliance How to engage - Event organisers in Luxembourg: contact Oekozenter Pafendall to apply for Green Events certification - Municipalities: join the 40 municipalities already participating by making Green Events the default requirement for events on public land - Visitors: ask at the entrance whether the event is Green Events certified: your question makes certification matter Why it matters When 364 events in a small country all operate without single-use packaging, reuse stops being the exception and becomes the new normal. Luxembourg's programme shows that a relatively straightforward certification process can shift the entire events sector within a few years. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. - Lead: Oekozenter Pafendall (OEKO) + SuperDrecksKëscht - Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th editioneventsreusecertificationsustainabilityLuxembourg
CommunityNicosiaCyprus: festival zero waste certification: leading with eventsFestivals approaching Friends of the Earth Cyprus for zero waste guidance Several Cypriot festivals are proactively approaching Friends of the Earth Cyprus for waste reduction guidance: signalling that the events sector is moving ahead of regulation. FoE Cyprus has developed a festival zero waste certification pathway covering plastic reduction, waste stream analysis, reuse systems, and post-event reporting. What the certification pathway covers - Pre-event: waste audit, supplier requirements, reusable system design - During: waste station placement, sorting guidance for staff and volunteers, data collection - Post-event: waste audit review and public reporting - Certification awarded when the event meets minimum waste reduction benchmarks How to engage - Festival and event organisers in Cyprus: contact Friends of the Earth Cyprus to start the zero waste certification process for your event - Attendees: look for the FoE Cyprus zero waste certification mark at events: and provide feedback to organisers who don't yet have it - Municipalities: hosting certified zero waste events on public land sets a visible standard and builds community appetite for broader policy Why it matters Voluntary certification creates early movers ahead of PAYT regulation. When PAYT eventually arrives in Cyprus, municipalities and event organisers who have already built the habits will adapt faster: and lead the rest. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. - Lead: Friends of the Earth Cyprus - Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th editioneventscertificationfestivalseducationreuse
