The current global pandemic of the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, is testing the capacity and readiness of our health systems like never before. The challenges we face here in Europe are grave and unprecedented, with a serious risk posed to citizens’ ability to access essential daily items.
The challenges and difficulties that COVID-19 poses to our society is also being felt in the implementation of the circular economy, from waste management to new business models that prevent waste in the first place. Some governments are changing the way they collect and treat waste, whilst some businesses are increasingly closing customer access to shopping that is packaging-free or with reusable containers.
The 7th of April we brought together waste and health experts to assess the impacts that the COVID-19 virus has on zero waste policies and strategies in Europe for our Live! webinars: COVID-19 and zero waste.
The webinar examined whether governments can simultaneously prioritise the health and protection of their citizens, whilst also progressing towards their local zero waste agenda by answering some key questions:
- What is the scientific evidence surrounding the shift back to single-use containers at the moment and what are the solutions to these concerns looking forward?
- How the COVID-19 virus is impacting waste management in Europe, showcasing what different measures governments are implementing and whether they are coherent with the EU’s broader waste and circular economy goals, analyzing the official recommendation on separate collection issued by the European Commission
- What we can do, as citizens, businesses and municipalities, to protect each other whilst also continuing to live a zero waste lifestyle?
Here you can download the speakers’ presentations.
