Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) has responded to the C40 network declaration “Advancing towards Zero Waste” by stating that the signatories “don’t always translate into consistent commitments.”
So far, 25 cities and regions from the global North have signed the declaration, which aims to reduce waste by 15%, halve landfill and incineration by 2030 and recycle 70% of waste.
The declaration endorses the importance of zero waste strategies to mitigate climate change, in line with ZWE’s report “The potential Contribution of Waste Management to a Low Carbon Economy”.
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While ZWE has welcomed the initiative and the creation of specific objections for cities and regions that look beyond EU legislation, it has said that these “ambitious objectives” don’t always translate into solid commitments from the signatories.
ZWE waste policy officer Ferran Rosa said: “Committing to advance towards zero waste should bring quick and systemic changes to waste management, such as mainstreaming bio-waste separate collection and planning the phase out of landfills and incinerators.
“These cities are setting themselves ambitious objectives, and this should serve to rethink investments and waste management plans to align them to these goals,” added ZWE’s Rosa, in a reference to the multi-billion new incinerators that the city of Paris wants to build.
However, ZWE has congratulated the cities on trying to move towards zero waste and has given support for them throughout their transition.
