Ahead of the International Day of Zero Waste on March 30, 2026, the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Zero Waste, with support from UN-Habitat and the UN Environment Programme, unveiled the inaugural "20 Cities Towards Zero Waste."
The initiative recognizes urban leaders demonstrating bold, practical approaches to reducing waste and advancing circular economy solutions.
The 20 selected cities span six continents and include Accra, Bologna, Chefchaouen, Dar es Salaam, Florianópolis, Hangzhou, Iloilo City, Kisumu, Kuala Lumpur, San Francisco, Yokohama, and Zapopan, among others. Each is recognized for turning waste reduction ambition into measurable action.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen highlighted standout models across the selected cities. These include strong producer responsibility frameworks in San Francisco and Suzhou, refill systems in Bologna, and the formal inclusion of waste pickers in Kuala Lumpur and Zapopan. She described these cities as proof that circular economies are built on innovation, equity, and concrete solutions.
José Manuel Moller, Deputy Chair of the UN Advisory Board on Zero Waste, emphasized that what distinguishes these cities is not polished plans on paper but real implementation. This includes source segregation, composting, reuse systems, informal sector inclusion, and active citizen engagement.
He stated that zero waste is "practical, local, and achievable when cities lead by example."
With humanity generating over 2.1 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste every year, the initiative directly supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Anacláudia Rosbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, stressed that local governments are not just managing waste systems but reshaping economies. She added that they are advancing inclusive solutions that integrate informal workers and communities.
