CommunityLjubljanaZero Waste strategies for Laško, Zreče, and Gorenja vas-PoljaneThree municipalities: formally approved by end of 2024 Ekologi brez meja (EBM) supported Laško, Zreče, and Gorenja vas-Poljane in developing full Zero Waste strategies together with plastic prevention plans: all three formally approved before the end of 2024. All three are now Zero Waste candidate municipalities under the ZWE network, joining Slovenia's already strong field of 5 certified and 7 candidate cities. What the strategies cover - Source-separation improvements and expanded composting - Plastic prevention measures at the municipal level - Roadmap for Zero Waste certification What you can do - If you live in Laško, Zreče, or Gorenja vas-Poljane: contact your municipality to learn how to participate in the implementation - Follow EBM for public events and workshops connected to the strategies Why it matters Municipal Zero Waste strategies convert commitment into policy and budget: and EBM's approach of pairing a waste strategy with a plastic prevention plan is becoming a template for Central European cities. 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: Ekologi brez meja (EBM) - Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th editionstrategycandidateplanningmunicipal
CommunityRomeMarche 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. 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 editionnetworkpilotregionalplanningstrategy
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
