The Sicilian municipality of Calatafimi Segesta may be small, but it provides one of Europe’s leading examples of how an island municipality can implement an effective zero waste strategy whilst also focusing on improving the lives of the local community. Despite receiving high-levels of tourism each year and having a dense, historic area in its centre, Calatafimi Segesta still achieved a 85% separate collection rate and generated just 88kgs of residual waste per person in 2022.
The municipality achieved these impressive results through a process of implementing a zero waste strategy at its core, with a focus on door-to-door collection of materials and the prioritisation of capturing organics, with supplementary incentives offered to residents who home composted. The decision not to build or extend local incineration capacity has allowed the municipality to implement ambitious policies that have delivered results.
Since its political commitment to become a Zero Waste City in 2011, the municipality has doubled the amount of materials separately collected for recycling & reuse. In this same timespan, they have reduced the volume of residual waste by two-thirds.
Available in English and Italian.
In the wine industry, single-use glass is heavily used for packaging. On the one hand, glass has the greatest environmental impacts compared to other packaging materials (i.e. PET, aluminium, and beverage carton). On the other hand, glass is 100% reusable and 100% recyclable at the end of its life cycle, and is an inert material, which makes it more suitable as a food contact material.
The reWINE project proves that a circular and more sustainable way of consuming wine is possible.
Let’s start the tasting tour!
Available in Catalan, English, French, Hungarian, Italian, Lithuanian, Portuguese, Slovenian, and Spanish.
This report, produced by Zero Waste Latvia, provides information about the waste that cannot be recycled, which ends up in a lightweight packaging container, its composition and the mistakes most often made by the public. Based on the results obtained, the report’s authors make recommendations to manufacturers and decision-makers to promote correct sorting of waste, improve communication intended for the public and take other strategic measures to improve the waste management system.
The impact of all the waste that is generated in Europe continues to be felt in countries and communities thousands of miles away. This case study illustrates the impacts inflicted by international waste trade upon Malaysia and shows how the country has responded.
Available in English
This Case Study written by ToxicoWatch puts the spotlight on the REC Dutch waste incineration plant, highlighting current failures to provide transparency, clear policy guidance and effective implementation.
Available in English.
Zero Waste Europe releases its new Consumption & Production Case Study, which promotes zero waste business models: The Story of Too Good To Go, a fast growing company making the link between shops whose food is about to be wasted and consumers who love a good deal.
Available in English, French, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese and German.
Evidence shows that waste incineration has a high impact on our climate, yet it’s not part of any scheme to progressively reduce CO2 emissions. This case study written by Žiedinė Ekonomika uses the example of the “Fortum Klaipeda” waste co-incineration plant in Lithuania to illustrate how waste incineration plants could be included under the EU ETS at EU or national level and outlines at the potential impact such inclusion on driving better waste management in Europe.
Available in English and French.
The Story of Unverpackt is the sixth chapter of the Zero Waste Europe Consumption & Production Case Studies series aimed at promoting zero waste business models.
Since opening in February 2014, Germany’s first packaging-free store Unverpackt in Kiel, has been pursuing a drastic reduction of packaging waste while motivating customers to rethink their consumer behavior. More than 100 stores in Germany are already following this example, the zero waste retail movement has only just begun.
Available in English & German
CEE Bankwatch Network, Counter Balance and Zero Waste Europe have published an analysis on the Belgrade solid waste public-private partnership (PPP). A case plagued by legal irregularities and circumvented binding decision-making processes.
Available in English.
Waste incinerators in the Netherlands create a large amount of toxic residues (bottom and fly ash) which are increasingly used in so called useful applications under the Green Deal agreement. The evidence shows that the current standards for the safety of this practice are outdated posing a significant threat to human health and the environment.
Available in English & Lithuanian
Toxic emissions and polluted air: the Waste-To-Energy plant of Sant Adria de Besos in Barcelona works at a high cost for the environment and the local community. Hungry for more? Read our blog in English.
Available in Spanish
Thanks to decentralised composting the province of Pontevedra went from providing no options for bio-waste to a comprehensive and community-based system, establishing itself as a best practice example for bio-waste management in Spain and beyond.
Available in English & Spanish
Going from 0 to 40% recycling rate within 3 months, the small county of Sălacea tells a remarkable Zero Waste success story, establishing itself as a best practice that can be replicated in rural communities across Romania.
Available in English and Montenegrin.
In 5 years, PHENIX saved 30.000 tonnes of food products and distributed 60 millions meals across France, proving that it is possible to prevent food waste and create new jobs while saving money.
Available in English
How Zero Waste and online shopping work together?
RePack is a closed-loop system that can reduce e-commerce packaging by 96%
while providing the same consumer experience as the disposable one.
Nothing prevents islands from achieving ambitious waste reduction and recycling targets – but waste incineration can slow them down.
Available in English, French and Spanish
Imagine expanding the life of electronic devices while incorporating blockchain traceability technology capable of creating 1 job for every 300 items reused. Now imagine ensuring a 95% recycling rate and transforming a cost for municipalities into revenue that stays in the community. This is not imagination, this is eReuse: a perfect example of how symbiosis between the digital agenda and waste management can create value, sustainability and jobs.
Available in: English. Other languages coming soon!
Although presented as state of the art, the youngest incinerator in the Netherlands is far from a clean: long-term tests reveal emissions of dioxin, furan and persistent organic pollutants far beyond the limits.
Available in English