In the lead-up to the International Day of Zero Waste, 20 cities worldwide have been recognised under the inaugural ‘20 Cities Towards Zero Waste’ initiative led by the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Zero Waste, with support from UN-Habitat and United Nations Environment Programme.
India’s Varkala has been selected among the global cities for its innovative waste management practices and circular economy initiatives.
About the Initiative
- Recognises cities adopting ambitious zero-waste strategies. It promotes:
- Waste reduction and recycling
- Circular economy solutions
- Sustainable and inclusive urban systems
International Day of Zero Waste
- Observed annually on March 30 since 2023
- Established through a UN General Assembly resolution (2022) led by Türkiye and other member states
- Jointly facilitated by UNEP and UN-Habitat
- Aims to promote:
- Responsible consumption and production
- Efficient waste management systems
- Contribution to sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Related Global Initiative
UNEP, in collaboration with UN Tourism, has also launched the ‘Recipe of Change’ initiative to:
- Mobilise tourism and hospitality sectors
- Reduce food waste across supply chains
Source: UN
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