Programme nearbyCommunityViladecansViladecans Plastic Prevention Plan: binding measures already runningA ZW candidate city taking plastic seriously Viladecans, a municipality of 70,000 on the southern edge of Barcelona, is a Zero Waste candidate city and a participant in the EU ERIC (Elevating Reuse In Cities) project alongside Torrelles de Llobregat. In 2024, Viladecans became one of the first Catalan cities to approve and begin implementing a binding Plastic Prevention Plan: a document that commits the municipality to specific, measurable plastic reduction measures already underway. What the plan includes - Reduction of single-use plastics in municipal events and public spaces - Promotion of reusable alternatives for takeaway containers in local hospitality - Procurement criteria requiring plastic-free options for city contracts - Monitoring and annual public reporting on plastic reduction outcomes How to participate - Attend Viladecans municipal events: they are piloting reusable tableware and cup systems - Ask local restaurants and bars about takeaway reuse options promoted under the plan - Follow Rezero for the ERIC project updates on reuse infrastructure in Viladecans Why it matters Binding plans with implementation already started are rare: most cities stop at commitments. Viladecans's plan, combined with its ERIC project participation, makes it one of the most concretely active zero waste cities in Spain right now.plasticpreventionplan +2
Programme nearbyCommunityLyonLyon Zero Plastic Prevention Plan (ERIC project)A metropolitan plastic plan built with citizens Lyon Métropole (1.4 million inhabitants) adopted a Zero Plastic Prevention Plan (PPP) in partnership with Zero Waste France through the EU ERIC (Elevating Reuse In Cities) project. The plan sets plastic reduction targets, defines public communication strategies to mobilise residents, and establishes zero-plastic public procurement charters for the metropolitan authority. What the plan covers - Plastic prevention targets for the Lyon metropolitan area - Communication campaigns to engage residents in reducing single-use plastic - Reuse systems for take-away and public-event contexts, trialled via CITEO funding - Zero-plastic procurement charters for city contracts and events - Knowledge exchange with Bordeaux and Nantes through the shared ERIC programme How to engage - Follow Zero Waste France for updates on the Lyon PPP implementation and citizen participation phases - Contact your arrondissement council to ask how the PPP affects local markets and events near you - Join public events coordinated through the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR): Lyon hosted 120+ events in 2024 Why it matters Lyon's PPP is one of three flagship French cities in the ERIC project, alongside Bordeaux and Nantes. A working model at metropolitan scale creates the evidence base that other French agglomerations need to adopt similar plans: and demonstrates that plastic prevention at 1.4 million inhabitants is achievable.plastic-freepolicyprevention +2
Programme nearbyCommunityNantesNantes zero waste strategy: citizen participationA city that invites residents into the plan Nantes Métropole is building its zero waste strategy from the ground up, running public campaigns that centre citizen participation rather than top-down implementation. In partnership with Zero Waste France through the ERIC project, the city designs each phase of its action plan to include community input: from awareness-raising to feedback on reuse infrastructure. What the programme involves - Public campaigns explaining zero waste goals and inviting resident feedback - Working with local schools, community groups, and neighbourhood councils to co-design waste-reduction actions - Participation in the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR), coordinating local events and visibility - Knowledge transfer with Lyon and Bordeaux as sister ERIC cities How to engage - Follow Zero Waste France for announcements on public consultations and participation events in Nantes - Contact Nantes Métropole's sustainability office to join citizen working groups on the zero waste strategy - Participate in EWWR events in November when the city amplifies its campaign Why it matters A strategy built with citizens is a strategy communities defend. Nantes' participatory model proves that large metropolitan zero waste plans can be co-created: and that civic engagement improves both the quality and durability of the outcomes.engagementcitizenspolicy +2
Programme nearbyFood & GardenLyonBio-waste source separation: AGEC law in actionFrance's circular economy law brings composting to every doorstep France's AGEC law (loi anti-gaspillage pour une économie circulaire) mandated source separation of bio-waste for all households from 1 January 2024. Municipalities across the country are now building collection infrastructure, distributing home composting equipment, and running resident education programmes to turn a legal obligation into a daily community habit. What municipalities are doing - Distributing separate bio-waste bins and/or home composting containers - Running neighbourhood workshops on what can be composted and how - Deploying door-to-door collection routes for organic kitchen waste - Partnering with local farms and green spaces to close the loop from food waste to compost How to engage - Check your municipality's website for the bio-waste collection calendar and bin distribution schedule - Attend a local composting workshop: many communes organise them in spring and autumn - Ask your building's property manager about a shared composter if you live in an apartment - Follow Zero Waste France for national advocacy and practical guides Why it matters Only 26% of EU food waste was captured in 2023 (up from 18% in 2020). France's AGEC law creates the legal architecture for a step change: but only works when residents and municipalities implement it together. Every neighbourhood that adopts source separation reduces landfill and methane emissions while creating local compost for urban greening.bio-wastecompostingsorting +2
Programme nearbyCommunityBrusselsBrussels zero waste events action planMaking every public event in Brussels waste-free Zero Waste Belgium developed a comprehensive strategic action plan for zero waste events across Brussels: covering event logistics, supplier requirements, reuse system specifications, and transition guidance for organisers. The plan, built from extensive research and cross-city case studies, is designed for full implementation in 2025. What the plan covers - Reuse requirements for cups, plates, and food packaging at public events - Case studies from cities across Europe that have already mandated zero waste events - Legal framework summary so event organisers understand their obligations - Practical tools and templates for municipalities and venue managers How to engage - Event organisers in Brussels: contact Zero Waste Belgium for support implementing zero waste standards at your event - Municipalities: request a copy of the action plan to adapt it for your local authority - Residents: ask your borough council whether events in your neighbourhood already follow zero waste guidelines Why it matters Public events generate disproportionate single-use waste in short bursts. A city-wide action plan removes the ambiguity: every organiser knows what is expected, every supplier knows what to offer, and every resident can expect a consistent experience across Brussels' festivals, markets, and fairs.eventsreusepolicy +2
Programme nearbyCommunityLuxembourgSanem: mandatory Green Events standard for all municipal eventsOne municipality that made zero waste non-negotiable The municipality of Sanem requires every public event hosted on municipal premises to meet Green Events standards: eliminating single-use packaging at source. The municipality provides event organisers with guidance, reusable dishware, and logistical support, making compliance straightforward rather than burdensome. What Sanem's mandatory standard means in practice - All events on municipal land must submit a sustainability plan and use reusable or approved alternatives - The municipality acts as a service provider, not just a regulator: it lends dishware and connects organisers with the dishwashing facility - Enforcement is paired with support: no organiser is left without a practical reuse option - Other Luxembourg municipalities are now looking to Sanem as a model to adopt in their own event policies How to engage - Sanem residents and organisations: contact the municipality to use the reusable dishware service for your event - Other Luxembourg municipalities: contact Oekozenter Pafendall to learn how to adopt a similar mandatory standard - Event organisers across Luxembourg: ask your municipality whether it will follow Sanem's lead Why it matters Voluntary standards work until they don't. Sanem's mandatory approach removes the competitive disadvantage for organisers who want to go zero waste: everyone operates on the same terms. This is the policy design that makes reuse economically rational.policyeventsreuse +2
Programme nearbyCommunitySofiaEcoObshtina: Bulgaria's national zero waste municipality competitionThe competition that raised the stakes for Bulgarian local government The EcoObshtina (Eco Municipality) competition is Bulgaria's largest annual award for sustainable municipalities, organised in partnership with the French Embassy. Za Zemiata shapes its evaluation criteria to prioritise measurable waste reduction outcomes: ensuring the competition rewards genuinely impactful programmes over greenwashing. In 2024, both Svilengrad and Gabrovo received the EcoMunicipality award, boosting the visibility of zero waste solutions at the level of national ministries and the National Association of Municipalities. What EcoObshtina does for zero waste - Evaluation criteria designed by Za Zemiata to reward source separation rates, PAYT implementation, and community engagement over less measurable commitments - Award ceremonies provide media coverage that amplifies zero waste success stories nationally - Partnership with the French Embassy brings international credibility and comparative benchmarking - Winning municipalities become reference cases for other local authorities to study How to engage - Bulgarian municipalities: apply for the next EcoObshtina cycle: follow Za Zemiata for application deadlines and criteria - Community groups: nominate your municipality for EcoObshtina recognition and document the waste programmes it runs - Policy advocates: use the competition results to name and praise municipalities that are leading: and ask the Ministry why national policy has not yet caught up with local practice Why it matters National awards turn local zero waste wins into stories ministers and neighbouring mayors cannot ignore. When Svilengrad and Gabrovo took EcoMunicipality honours in 2024, they gave every Bulgarian council a visible benchmark, and a reason to aim higher than greenwashing.advocacyawardspolicy +2
Programme nearbyCommunityNicosiaNicosia Plastic Prevention Plan: ERIC project on the islandCyprus's capital building a plastic prevention strategy Friends of the Earth Cyprus works with the Municipality of Nicosia to develop a Plastic Prevention Plan through the EU ERIC (Elevating Reuse In Cities) project: covering waste management at public events and establishing a broader city-wide resource strategy. Nicosia's plan is part of the same network that connects Lyon, Bordeaux, Nantes, and Skiathos, giving Cyprus direct access to European best practices in plastic reduction. What the Nicosia plan covers - Plastic prevention targets for events and public spaces in Nicosia - Review of public procurement to reduce single-use plastics in municipal services - Communication campaigns to engage residents and event organisers - Knowledge exchange with other ERIC cities in France, Greece, and beyond How to engage - Nicosia residents: follow Friends of the Earth Cyprus for announcements on public consultation phases of the Plastic Prevention Plan - Event organisers in Nicosia: contact FoE Cyprus to learn how the ERIC project's event standards apply to your event - Cyprus-wide: the Nicosia plan sets a precedent: ask your own municipal council whether it will develop a similar plan Why it matters Cyprus has no Zero Waste certified or candidate cities, and PAYT has been delayed. The Nicosia Plastic Prevention Plan shows that progress is possible through voluntary commitment and EU project infrastructure even when national policy is slow.plastic-freepreventionpolicy +2
Programme nearbyRepair & ReuseNicosiaKourion / Ipsonas: municipal repair stations (LIFE Zero Waste Cyprus)A Zero Waste candidate city building places to repair, not replace Kourion Municipality (formerly Ipsonas, reformed under local government restructuring) is the only Zero Waste Candidate City in Cyprus: and part of its candidacy involves establishing municipal repair stations where residents can bring broken items to be fixed. The programme is part of the LIFE Zero Waste Cyprus project, coordinated by the Department of Environment, covering a range of waste reduction measures across the municipality. What the repair stations programme includes - Fixed repair points where trained volunteers or paid repair workers assess and fix household items - Links to the LIFE Zero Waste Cyprus programme infrastructure: hazardous waste collection points, tool libraries, and repair guides - Kourion's innovative approach to PAYT (a more digitally advanced system than other municipalities) runs alongside the repair infrastructure How to engage - Kourion/Ipsonas residents: find your nearest repair station and bring items that need fixing: contact the municipality for the current list of accepted items and opening times - Repair volunteers: contact Friends of the Earth Cyprus or the municipality to join the repair volunteer programme - Other Cypriot municipalities: follow the LIFE Zero Waste Cyprus project outcomes to understand how repair infrastructure can be integrated into a wider zero waste municipality plan Why it matters Cyprus's only Zero Waste Candidate City is proving that repair stations belong in municipal infrastructure, not just at volunteer pop-ups. Every item fixed at a council-run station is one fewer purchase and one less bin of residual waste.repairreusepolicy +2
Programme nearbyCommunityWarsawPoland national Deposit Return System: launching October 2025Five years of advocacy, one national system After five years of sustained advocacy by the Polish Zero Waste Association, Poland's national Deposit Return System (DRS) is launching on 1 October 2025. The system will apply to beverage containers: bottles, cans, and cartons: across all retail points. For communities and municipalities, the launch creates both infrastructure (return machines, collection logistics) and a cultural shift toward thinking of packaging as something that goes back, not into the bin. What the DRS means for residents - A deposit paid at purchase is refunded when you return the container at a registered return point - Return machines will be installed at supermarkets and retail locations across the country - Manufacturers, retailers, and the state share responsibility under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) How to engage - Polish residents: return your beverage containers from October 2025 at the nearest registered return point: your deposit is waiting - Retailers: follow the official DRS operator guidance on installing return machines in time for the October launch - Municipalities: contact Polish Zero Waste Association for support preparing residents for the DRS launch with education campaigns Why it matters Poland's DRS is proof that persistent, evidence-based advocacy works. After five years, the system is real. It sets a precedent for EPR policy in Poland and demonstrates the path to other advocates working on similar legislation in CEE countries.deposit-returnpackagingpolicy +2
Programme nearbyRepair & ReuseWarsawPoland: mandatory textile separate collection from January 2025Used clothes now have their own bin: municipalities need to keep up Poland introduced mandatory separate collection of textile waste from 1 January 2025: a legal obligation for municipalities to provide dedicated textile collection infrastructure. The Polish Zero Waste Association is supporting municipalities in building education campaigns and collection systems to meet the new requirement, which affects how residents discard old clothing, fabric, and accessories. What the obligation means - Municipalities must provide clearly marked textile collection points or door-to-door collection for used clothing and fabric - Retailers above a certain threshold must accept back textiles sold in their stores - Residents no longer need to find a charity shop: the municipal infrastructure now handles textile waste How to engage - Polish residents: check where your nearest textile collection point is and use it for worn-out clothing you can't donate or sell - Municipalities: contact Polish Zero Waste Association for education campaign templates in Polish explaining the new collection obligation to residents - Textile retailers: ensure your in-store textile take-back complies with the January 2025 regulation: contact the Association for guidance Why it matters The EU's extended producer responsibility push is bringing textile collection mandates across Europe. Poland's January 2025 launch makes it one of the earlier adopters, and the Polish Zero Waste Association's work building municipal capacity will inform how similar programmes roll out across the region.textilescollectionpolicy +2
Programme nearbyRepair & ReuseZagrebZagreb Plastic Prevention Plan: ban single-use, refill the cityFrom city buildings to hospitality venues Zagreb adopted a Plastic Prevention Plan as part of the ERIC project: one of the most comprehensive municipal plastic policies in the Western Balkans region. The plan bans single-use plastics across all city-owned buildings and institutions and combines that with public infrastructure to make reuse the easy default. Measures already running - New and repaired public drinking-water fountains installed across the city to cut single-use plastic bottle purchases - Single-use plastic items removed from select city-organised events - Support for hospitality businesses switching to reusable packaging What you can do - Use the public refill fountains instead of buying bottled water - Ask event organisers in Zagreb whether the venue is single-use-plastic-free - Talk to your neighbourhood association about advocating for more refill points in your district Why it matters Policy without infrastructure fails. Zagreb pairs the ban with visible reuse alternatives: showing that a city of almost one million can shift habits at scale.plasticreuserefill +1
