Repair & ReuseBarranquillaSegregate waste at home with Barranquilla recyclersClean streams: dignified work The ASOREBAQ recycler cooperative in Barranquilla works with local leaders on a 41-component programme: Barranquilla Composta y Cultiva, that helps households separate organics and deliver clean dry recyclables. The model mirrors recycler-led organic management in Colombia and Argentina highlighted in the 2025 regional zero-waste report. What you can do - Join neighbourhood sorting workshops run by ASOREBAQ and partner schools. - Separate organics and rinsed recyclables at home before hand-off to the cooperative’s collection routes. Why it matters When recyclers co-design collection, diversion rates rise and livelihoods are formalised, a builder-minded alternative to landfilling mixed waste. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. - Report chapter: Zero Waste Europe: Latin America & the Caribbean (5th ed.) · Cooperative: @asorebaqbarranquilla · Regional context: GAIA Latin America & the Caribbeanrecyclingcompostsegregation
CommunityZagrebPRE-KOM door-to-door collection: national leader in northern Croatia14 municipalities, 71 % separate collection PRE-KOM in Prelog operates door-to-door waste collection across 14 municipalities in northern Croatia: Prelog, Goričan, Donji Kraljevec, Sveta Marija, Donji Vidovec, Donja Dubrava, Kotoriba, Belica, Dekanovec, Domašinec, Podturen, Martijanec, Jalžabet, and Pribislavec. The network consistently ranks as Croatia's top performer in separate waste collection, averaging over 71 % and producing fewer than 73 kg of residual waste per resident: well below the national average of 247 kg. What residents do - Sort household waste into the collected fractions at source - Follow the door-to-door schedule provided by PRE-KOM for each street Why it matters In a country where national policy still favours waste-to-energy, these 14 municipalities prove that source separation at the household level works at scale: and that small municipalities can lead a large country. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. - Waste operator: PRE-KOM, Prelog - Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th editionpaytdoor-to-doorrecyclingmunicipal
CommunityZagrebZagreb Pay-As-You-Throw: fairer billing, less landfillCitizens control their own waste bill Zagreb introduced a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) system following recommendations from Zelena Akcija under the EU-funded ERIC (Elevating Reuse In Cities) project. By late 2024 the city had cut landfilling by 20 % and boosted separate collection by 50 % compared to 2022: with full rollout expected by end of 2026. What changed - Open street bins in the city centre replaced with underground containers for separated and mixed waste - Elsewhere, bins relocated into buildings and courtyards; caged and semi-underground containers added - Households charged based on the volume of mixed waste they generate, not a flat fee How to participate - Sort household waste into the correct streams: you directly reduce your bill - Follow Zagreb's city environmental office for updates on PAYT rollout in your district - Support the advocacy to extend door-to-door collection to more neighbourhoods Why it matters PAYT aligns the incentive system: the less mixed waste you produce, the less you pay. Combined with infrastructure improvements, Zagreb is turning around one of Central Europe's larger urban waste footprints. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. - ERIC project: Zelena Akcija - ERIC - Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th editionpaytwaste-reductionurbanrecycling
CommunityRomeCalatafimi Segesta: 87.7% source separation in rural SicilyA small Sicilian town at the top of Europe's waste rankings Calatafimi Segesta, a municipality of around 6,000 in the province of Trapani, Sicily, achieved over 87.7% source separation of municipal solid waste: one of the highest rates in Italy and among the best in Europe. In a country where Sicily's aggregate recycling performance lags the national average, Calatafimi Segesta stands as proof that ambition and community participation matter more than location or wealth. What drives the result - Rigorous door-to-door collection for all fractions: organics, paper, plastics, glass, residual - A culture of participation built through consistent communication with residents - Close collaboration with the local waste operator and Zero Waste Italy - Regular monitoring and public reporting of results What you can do - If your municipality is below 50% separate collection, ask your waste operator and council what it would take to adopt door-to-door collection - Share Calatafimi Segesta's results as evidence when advocating for better collection in your area - Follow Zero Waste Italy for case studies and advocacy support Why it matters At 87.7%, Calatafimi Segesta diverts nearly nine tonnes in ten from disposal. Multiplied across the 340-municipality Italian Zero Waste network, this model has the potential to remove millions of tonnes of waste from landfills and incinerators. 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 Waste Italy (ZWI) - Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th editionrecyclingsource-separationruraldoor-to-door
CommunityZagrebKrk Island: Europe's first certified Zero Waste island clusterSeven municipalities: one shared model Krk Island became Europe's first certified Zero Waste island when all seven of its municipalities: Krk, Baška, Dobrinj, Malinska-Dubašnica, Omišalj, Punat, and Vrbnik: achieved Zero Waste certification together through the waste company PONIKVE. The result: 60 % average separate collection and only 73 kg of residual waste per resident per year, compared to the Croatian national average of 247 kg. What makes Krk replicable - Door-to-door sorting integrated with the existing island waste system - Joint certification across multiple small municipalities sharing one operator - Farmers and hotels participate in the same collection circuits as households - Ongoing focus on waste prevention and reuse: not just better sorting How to get involved - If your municipality partners with PONIKVE, ask about volunteering in collection or composting - Visit or follow Zelena Akcija to support national Zero Waste certification advocacy Why it matters Krk shows that tourist islands: where seasonal waste peaks are hardest to manage: can still hit Zero Waste targets. The model is already inspiring other coastal communities across Croatia and beyond. 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: Zelena Akcija (Friends of the Earth Croatia) - Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th editionislandcertifiedrecyclingcirculardoor-to-door
CommunitySkiathosCoastal zero waste tourism: how dayboats can protect remote beachesSkiathos shows that tourist operators can lead on waste The Zero Waste Rota programme, developed by ECOREC and the Municipality of Skiathos, trains dayboat operators to actively educate tourists about proper waste disposal: including at remote beaches that are inaccessible by road and therefore lack collection infrastructure. The programme measurably increased recycling rates on the island and fostered a culture of environmental responsibility among visitors. What the programme involves - Dayboat operators receive training on waste separation and guest communication - Tourists are briefed on board before reaching remote beaches about what to do with packaging and recyclables - Operators bring separated waste back to port for collection: protecting beaches that cannot be serviced by standard vehicles - The approach is scalable to any island with a dayboat economy Why it matters Greece's Aegean islands face intense seasonal waste from marine tourism. Regulation alone cannot reach a boat at sea or a path-only beach. The Skiathos model shows that education and operator buy-in can do what infrastructure cannot, and it is directly replicable on any island with a similar tourist boat economy. How to replicate it - If you operate or charter boats in the Aegean, contact ECOREC about Zero Waste Rota training - If you visit Greek islands by dayboat, ask whether the operator follows Zero Waste Rota practices: and request it if not - Municipal waste officers on other islands can use the Skiathos programme as a template for ERIC or national funding bids 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: ECOREC – Ecological Recycling Society - Zero Waste Rota: Municipality of Skiathos + ECOREC - Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th editioncoastaltourismrecyclingboatseducation
Repair & ReuseLagosComputer Village circular e-waste: LagosPut one device on the market: recycle one in Lagos In Computer Village, Lagos's electronics trading hub, traders collect end-of-life laptops and phones for professional recycling. GIZ piloted a “put one on the market, recycle one” model with Closing the Loop and local partners, buyers in the Global North fund proper recycling when new devices sell. The model is shared worldwide through the PREVENT Waste Alliance (GIZ secretariat). What you can do - Repair shops and traders: connect with programmes that pay for whole devices sent to certified recyclers instead of informal dismantling - European buyers: choose suppliers enrolled in compensation schemes for African e-waste fractions - Circular-economy groups: join PREVENT working groups on problematic e-waste fractions How it works Middlemen like Iliya Abba's warehouse in Computer Village ship intact devices to recyclers such as Hinckley in Lekki; PREVENT scales the financing model across countries. Why it matters Fair recycling needs fair finance, bonused take-back beats toxic backyard burning. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Source: GIZ Story Portal · Story: Taking recycling to another level · PREVENT Waste Alliance.e-wasteLagoscircular-economyPREVENTrecycling
Repair & ReuseMunichPrepare for Munich’s Gelbe Tonne (from 2027)Packaging recycling at the kerb Munich collects too little lightweight packaging at Wertstoffinseln compared with other cities. From 2027 a Gelbe Tonne for plastics, metals, and composites will roll out city-wide, financed by dual systems, not household waste fees. What residents can do now - Sort packaging cleanly in existing yellow systems in pilot districts. - Follow AWM updates on rollout timelines and FAQs. Pilot context Since January 2024 five districts tested Gelbe Tonne, Wertstofftonne, and Gelber Sack variants; council chose Gelbe Tonne in July 2025 based on scientific evaluation. Why it matters Kerbside packaging collection catches what many households still miss at remote Wertstoffinseln. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Project page: Gelbe Tonne · Pilot details: Pilotversuch Gelbe Systemerecyclingpackaginglocal
Repair & ReuseMunichDrop bulk waste at a WertstoffhofFree responsible disposal for households Munich’s 12 Wertstoffhöfe accept household bulky waste and recyclables in everyday quantities, up to 2 m³ bulky waste per resident per day at no charge. What you can do - Visit one of Munich's 12 Wertstoffhöfe with household bulky waste and recyclables (up to 2 m³ per resident per day, free) - Prefer weekdays; Saturdays can be very busy (short-notice closures possible) Tips - Prefer weekdays; Saturdays can be very busy (short-notice closures possible). - Good-condition items may continue to Halle 2 instead of landfill. Why it matters Free responsible disposal keeps bulky and tricky recyclables out of illegal dumping and residual bins. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Locations: Wertstoffhöfe · AWM: Projekterecyclingwastelocal
CommunityBerlinDeutschland trennt., community waste-sorting roadshowLive sorting know-how where people already shop Deutschland trennt. is a nationwide action by the dual systems and their Mülltrennung wirkt initiative. Show trucks, the TRENN-BÄR mascot, quiz wheels, and giant XXL packaging installations bring hands-on sorting advice to market squares and retail car parks across Germany: not in a lecture hall, but where neighbours already meet. What you can do - Visit a roadshow stop near you when the tour runs (check the event map on the campaign page) - Test your sorting knowledge at the quiz wheel and pick up practical tips for yellow-bin, paper, glass, and residual waste - Share what you learn with housemates or your building's waste station How to participate - Find dates and locations on Deutschland trennt. - The tour works with municipalities, waste companies, and 13 leading retail partners from grocery, DIY, drugstore, and organic sectors: events also appear at partner stores nationwide Why it matters Roughly 30% of what lands in yellow bins and sacks does not belong there: nappies, vacuum bags, and food scraps block recycling. Correct sorting at home keeps plastics, metals, and composites in the loop. More to explore - Try the 360° sorting-facility tour linked from Digitale Helfer to see what happens after the bin Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Source: Initiative Mülltrennung wirkt, Deutschland trennt.sortingrecyclingroadshowretailGermany
Repair & ReuseNairobiGjenge Makers plastic waste bricksBuilding materials from shredded plastic waste Gjenge Makers (Nairobi, Kenya) turns plastic waste into affordable building materials, shredding and pressing discarded plastic into bricks and pavers that Impacc reports as seven times stronger and 50% lighter than concrete. What you can do - Source pavers or bricks for community paving, school yards, or yard paths - Organise neighbourhood plastic collection drives that feed local recycling processors - Visit or tour the workshop where possible to learn small-scale production lines How to participate - Enquire about products and collection partnerships via the Gjenge Makers portfolio page Why it matters Plastic litter becomes public infrastructure when makerspaces pair collection with honest engineering, strength tested, weight reduced, cost accessible. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Source: Impacc · Portfolio: Gjenge Makers.plasticrecyclingbrickscircularKenya
Repair & ReuseNairobiAfrica Collect Textiles upcyclingUniforms, jeans, and carpets from discarded textiles Africa Collect Textiles (ACT) in Nairobi pioneers textile recycling, turning used guard uniforms into backpacks, weaving carpets from old jeans, and producing filling material for furniture makers. What you can do - Donate clean used textiles at ACT collection points where available - Commission upcycled products for schools, clubs, or community spaces - Replicate the model: sort, shred, and design new goods from fibres already in the city How to participate - Check collection and product lines on the ACT portfolio page Why it matters Fast fashion's waste stream is a local materials bank when designers and collectors work openly together. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Source: Impacc · Portfolio: Africa Collect Textiles.textilesupcyclingrecyclingNairobicircular
