Elevating Reuse in Cities (ERIC)
“Cities can, and should, become the incubators and vectors for scaling up reuse in Europe. They certainly have a leading role to play in the fight against plastic waste. However, we still lack a better understanding of the conditions that enable reuse to flourish in these communities. Our ERIC project will provide concrete answers to this question, helping to inspire and guide the replication of reuse models in cities around the world.”
Manon Jourdan, Waste Prevention Manager at Zero Waste Europe and ERIC Project Coordinator
Campaign for EPR Reform
A coalition of nearly 40 European cities and progressive businesses launched an open manifesto calling to reform the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems under the upcoming EU Circular Economy Act.
Why? Current EPR systems are failing to address the root causes of the waste crisis. They remain stuck in outdated, end-of-pipe solutions that neither incentivise true waste prevention nor support reuse at scale.
Our message to EU policymakers is clear:
We need EPR systems that prioritise waste prevention, enable reuse, and hold producers accountable for the full lifecycle of their packaging.
✍️ Check the campaign and (if you represent a city or a progressive businesses) endorse the manifesto now!
About ERIC
Elevating Reuse in Cities (ERIC) is a two-year project launched in April 2022 that aims to support 18 to 30 EU municipalities to embed waste prevention locally, through the creation of Plastic Prevention Plans (PPPs) that target and implement reuse actions within their direct sphere of public control – which includes public events, buildings (e.g. municipal facilities, gyms), spaces (e.g. streets, squares, parks) and through procurement tenders.
ERIC involves local implementation of activities by 10 member organisations of Zero Waste Europe.
Main strategies and outcomes:
- Actively train and help support our local groups involved in this project to become reuse specialists, building on their existing zero waste expertise – which will help them to design and implement successful plastic prevention plans together with the targeted cities, as well as effectively monitor the impact of the policies introduced on the reduction of the plastic waste generated locally.
- At least 18 to 30 single-use plastic prevention plans (PPPs) are created in a targeted group of European municipalities, with measures focusing primarily on what falls directly within their immediate sphere of control – public procurement, events, buildings and spaces.
- Mobilise the municipalities within our network ahead of key political moments (Global Plastic Treaty, EU’s Packaging Waste Directive) to lobby for ambitious reuse legislation, using examples implemented locally as part of this project as best practices, that set the ambition and direction for reuse to scale up in the years to come.
Join the conversation on social network:
#CitiesAndCommunities | #SingleUseFreeCities | #BeyondSingleUse | #LessSingleUseMoreReuse | #ERICproject
If you are interested in learning more about ERIC or explore ways to collaborate with the project, don’t hesitate to reach out to the project coordinators – Manon Jourdan and Jack McQuibban
Project partners & cities involved
Project partners
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Zero Waste Europe (coordinator) -
Ecologists without borders -
Friends of the Earth Cyprus -
Friends of the Earth - SPZ Slovakia -
Hnuti Duha (Friends of the Earth Czech Republic) -
Rezero -
Za Zemiata - Friends of the Earth Bulgaria -
Zelena Akcija - Friends of the Earth Croatia -
Zero Waste Belgium -
Zero Waste France -
Zero Waste Italy
Municipalities involved in the project
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Gabrovo - Bulgaria -
Svilengrad - Bulgaria
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Commune of Jette - Belgium -
City of Brussels - Belgium -
Zagreb - Croatia -
Krk Island - Croatia -
Nicosia - Cyprus -
Ypsonas - Cyprus
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Kostice - Czech Republic -
Majetín - Czech Republic -
Ořechov - Czech Republic -
Těrlicko - Czech Republic -
Bordeaux - France -
Lyon - France -
Nantes - France -
Calatafimi Segesta - Italy -
Carmignano - Italy -
Viareggio - Italy -
Bled - Slovenia -
Gorenja Vas- Poljane - Slovenia -
Gorje - Slovenia -
Laško - Slovenia -
Vrhnika - Slovenia -
Zreče - Slovenia -
Košeca - Slovakia -
Partizánske - Slovakia -
Úľany nad Žitavou - Slovakia -
Torrelles de Llobregat - Spain -
Viladecans - Spain
Publications & resources
Latest updates
Breaking the single-use bias: two years of local action through the Elevating Reuse In Cities Project
Komunala Škofja Loka: cutting single-use waste with reusable cup rentals
Tackling plastic waste locally: A Catalan success story
Washable nappies at the heart of the eco crèche project – An inclusive, universal and economical solution
The role of local authorities in the fight against single-use plastics
Viladecans and Torrelles de Llobregat lead the fight against plastic waste
Zero waste practices are here to stay: from the Olympic Games in Paris to Afrobanana Festival in Cyprus
Calatafimi Segesta promotes a future without single-use plastics on World Environment Day
Transforming cities with the ERIC project: Paving the way to zero waste
Creating Prevention Pioneers: Insights from our training on plastic prevention and reuse strategies in Berlin
Launch of ‘ERIC’ project empowers local authorities to prevent plastic waste production
Get in touch
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Manon JourdanWaste Prevention Manager -
Jack McQuibbanHead of Local Zero Waste Implementation at Zero Waste Europe -
Giulia LodiCommunications & Network Officer at Zero Waste Europe
Funded by
Zero Waste Europe gratefully acknowledges financial assistance from the Plastic Solutions Fund. The sole responsibility for the content of this project lies with the authoring organisations. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the funder mentioned above. The funder cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.