Certification

The Zero Waste Cities Certification is the world’s first certification program designed to fast-track Europe’s transition to zero waste at the local level.

Municipalities who wish to become certified are provided with expert mentors and data-driven services that have been specifically designed to optimise the implementation of local zero waste strategies. It’s a groundbreaking step up and evolution of our work with communities and cities, as we now have a robust and independent certification system to guide municipalities on their journey to zero waste.

Led by our close partners, the Mission Zero Academy, the certification is both the tool to recognise Europe’s best performing municipalities and a practical roadmap for local authorities looking to develop and implement zero waste strategies suited to their specific context.

Together with the Zero Waste Europe network, the Zero Waste Cities programme will continue to mentor and support cities that have committed to implement local zero waste strategies but who are not ready to join the Certification just yet. We will continue to focus our efforts on building an active network of zero waste experts across Europe, as well as creating tools and documents that capture the best zero waste practices and showcase they can be effectively replicated in different European contexts.

The certification builds on over a decade of work by Zero Waste Europe and its members in advancing community-centered zero waste models at the local level. Today, this effort has led to more than 400 European municipalities joining the Zero Waste Cities programme, demonstrating the growing momentum towards a zero waste future in Europe.

Find out how the Certification works and register your interest in becoming a Zero Waste Certified City here.