Zero Waste Cities is a program of Zero Waste Europe aimed at helping cities and communities move towards zero waste. It brings together European knowledge platform for local communities and organizations to implement best practices, as well as a mentoring and recognition program for municipalities. Zero Waste Cities is jointly managed by the international organization Zero Waste Europe and its member organizations.

The goal of the program is to accelerate the transition to zero waste at the city level – especially in small and medium-sized municipalities – by implementing relevant EU legislation and zero waste strategies based on citizen-centered models. This will lead to a significant reduction in waste generation and an increase in separate collection and recycling.

Zero Waste principles for manufacturing companies and business structures:

• Use raw materials made from recycled materials. If new extraction is necessary, give preference to raw materials from regenerative sources. The transition of enterprises to zero waste will reduce the amount of landfills and incinerated waste by 90%.
• Promote the transition from a linear to a circular production system and maximise the use of residuals and recycled materials.
• Avoid creating waste during and after the production process.
• Include energy consumption and waste management in your production optimisation calculations whenever possible.
• Apply eco-design and reduce the pollution and waste generated during the life cycle of your product.
• Shift the focus from the productivity of your employees to the productivity of your production resources.

Zero Waste principles for reducing waste in the home:

Step one: Refuse

Conscious consumption and refusing to make unnecessary purchases is the first step towards reducing waste. Plastic packaging is an unnecessary thing that surrounds us everywhere. Spend your money on quality and really necessary things that will last you a long time.

Simple things that will reduce the amount of rubbish on the planet:

• A cloth shopping bag instead of plastic bags
• Eco-bags for goods by weight instead of dozens of sachets
• A handy lunch box instead of a lunch in disposable containers
• Your own water bottle instead of a lot of plastic ones from the store
• A coffee mug instead of disposable tableware

Step two: Reduce

Less stuff means less waste. Less wasted resources means more use. Choose essentials and household items and avoid secondary and unnecessary items. Some kitchen appliances can be borrowed and some unnecessary items can be donated. If you are not sure about your choice of cosmetics, use trial samples. Gradually, you will realise what is really necessary and important to you.

Step three: Reuse

Choose quality products made from recyclable materials. You can often exchange or find the things you need for free. And this is not about poverty. It’s about conscious environmental thinking and refusing to consume for the sake of consumption.

Step four: Recycle

Recycling alone cannot solve the problem of waste, but it is an important part of caring for the environment when it comes to unavoidable waste. Correct sorting is an essential step for further recycling. More and more containers for distributed collection are now available – take advantage of them.

Step five: Rot – Composting

Organic waste and food scraps can be easily converted into fertiliser with a home compost. It is easy to set up even in a city apartment and then fertilise plants in the house flower garden or pots. Residents of large cities can install a dispenser under the kitchen sink to grind organic waste before it goes down the drain.