Through the projects ZWE coordinates and the Zero Waste Cities Certification, operated by its sister organisation, the Mission Zero Academy, cities covering 18 million inhabitants in Europe are being supported to implement zero waste solutions, as highlighted in the “State of Zero Waste Municipalities Report 2024”.
The report showcases many strong examples of zero waste in action. For example, a strong focus on reuse and repair is evident, with Tallinn, achieving a 92% return rate for reusable tableware at city events and establishing over 10 municipal reuse and repair hubs, and Komunala Škofja Loka in Slovenia preventing 23,000 single-use cups with their rental service in 2024. Similarly, Zagreb has seen landfilling drop by 20% and separate waste collection rise by 50%, partly due to measures like banning single-use plastics in public buildings and increased door-to-door collection of materials.
