Programme nearbyCommunityRomeMarche region Zero Waste pilot: embedding the path at local levelFrom Tuscany to Marche: scaling the regional model Following the success of the Tuscany cluster pilot, Zero Waste Italy launched a parallel pilot in the Marche region: working with municipalities to embed a clear Zero Waste path at the local level. A key challenge the pilot addresses is administrative discontinuity: when mayors change and political majorities shift, Zero Waste commitments can be lost. The pilot builds institutional memory and community ownership that outlast any single administration. What the pilot does - Works directly with municipalities on Zero Waste strategies and waste prevention plans - Builds local reference points: civic observers, neighbourhood coordinators: to maintain momentum through political cycles - Shares findings with the broader Italian ZW network so other regions can adopt the model What you can do - If you live in Marche, ask your municipality whether it is participating in the ZWI pilot and how residents can contribute - Volunteer as a local Zero Waste observer or ambassador through Zero Waste Italy - Use the findings from the pilot to advocate for your own municipality's commitment to a Zero Waste strategy Why it matters The biggest obstacle to Zero Waste is not technology: it is political and institutional continuity. Marche's pilot is testing exactly how to build the civic infrastructure that makes the commitment stick.networkpilotregional +2
Programme nearbyRepair & ReuseSilvesSilves: Portugal's first separate stream for sanitary textiles and diapersA collection pilot the rest of Portugal is watching Silves, an Algarve municipality, became the first in Portugal to collect sanitary textiles and diapers as a dedicated separate waste stream: a hygiene category that normally ends up in residual waste and goes straight to landfill or incineration. The pilot, supported by ZERO, forms part of Silves's broader door-to-door collection overhaul in the Algarve region. Why it matters Diapers and sanitary textiles make up a significant share of household residual waste, yet they usually ride straight to landfill in mixed bins. Silves is Portugal's first dedicated collection pilot, a reference case other municipalities can copy once results are in. What you can do - If you live in Silves, ask the municipal environment office how to access the dedicated collection point or service - Advocate for this stream in your own municipality by sharing Silves's results with local councillors - Follow ZERO for policy developments around this waste stream nationallytextilesdiaperswaste-stream +1
Programme nearbyCommunityFlorenceTuscany Zero Waste pilot: 51 municipalities mapping the path togetherA regional network learning from each other Since early 2023, Zero Waste Italy has run a pilot programme with 51 Zero Waste municipalities across Tuscany, supporting them to share knowledge, map obstacles, and strengthen the collective path toward Zero Waste certification. The pilot is designed to understand, at scale: what works and what holds municipalities back, so that ZWI can improve its support model for Italy's 340-city network. What the pilot does - Maps current separate collection rates, infrastructure gaps, and political barriers across all 51 municipalities - Facilitates peer learning between municipalities that are ahead and those still building momentum - Produces findings ZWI uses to improve national network support tools How to get involved - If you live in Tuscany, check whether your municipality is part of the pilot and attend any public open days or consultations on waste reduction targets - Contact Zero Waste Italy if your municipality wants to join the regional network Why it matters Supporting 340 municipalities individually is unsustainable. Regional cluster pilots like Tuscany's are how Italy's ZW movement scales its expertise: making every community in the network stronger.networkpilotcircular +2
