The North of Italy has the best performing examples of waste management in urban context in Europe. The rapid expansion of Zero Waste champions has lead to quick transitions and ambitious goals.
Representatives from 16 municipalities, among which are large cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Zaragoza, Valencia, Coruña and Palma de Mallorca, visited the Treviso region which has the highest recycling rates in Europe, and Milan, the largest city in the world where kerbside source separation of organic waste has been implemented. The purpose of this visit, organised by Zero Waste Europe, Zero Waste Madrid, Friends of the Earth and the Catalan Foundation for Waste Reduction was to learn about the best performing waste management models. Currently, Spain sends more than 60% of waste to landfills and incinerators, including 90% of biowaste generated, a clear sign of the need for a paradigm shift in waste management. The participation of these municipalities in this study tour demonstrates the interest of the local government to improve waste management. In addition to the 6 large cities involved in this experience there was also a large representation of municipalities in the east of Madrid, an area severely affected by waste disposal infrastructure, such as landfills and incinerators as well as the heavily polluting cement kiln of Valdemingómez Morata de Tajuña, which is currently permitted to burn mixed waste. The trip included 8 representatives from Eastern Madrid (San Fernando de Henares, Velilla de San Antonio, Alcala de Henares, Torres de la Alameda, Loeches, Mejorada del Campo, Coslada and Rivas Vaciamadrid), including politicians, technicians, and activists.
What did we visit?
- Door-to-door collection in a dense urban context
- PAYT by set out
- AD/Composting sites
- MRBT facility
- Nappies treatment facility
