The town of Roubaix, situated in the north of France, is a post-industrial area, considered to be the poorest town in France, with 46% of people living below the poverty line. However, who said Zero Waste was reserved for well-off towns? Lacking the competency to change waste collection and treatment practices, in 2014, Roubaix addressed waste at source, by creating a vibrant constellation of actors committed to reducing their waste: families, schools, businesses, associations, and the municipality itself.

In only one year the city of Roubaix achieved impressive results:

• 25% of households managed to reduce their waste generation  over 80% and 70% of them reduced it by 50%
• Families who took up the challenge have also seen important economic savings
• The network of actors involved in moving the town forward grown fast and helped to create a social fabric. 

Now Roubaix is not only contributing towards the national path to zero waste but it also portrays a new image of itself as a city.