Since the beginning of this year, consumers have returned an impressive 1.06 billion containers through deposit return schemes, with RetuRO, a key player in container recycling efforts, handing over approximately 83,000 tons of containers to recyclers. In March alone, close to 384 million deposit return scheme (DRS) packages were collected, representing 75% of the packaging placed on the market.
These developments come amid a growing global emphasis on local waste management strategies, as highlighted in a recent report from Zero Waste Europe. The report underscores a significant shift among municipalities worldwide, which are increasingly focusing on waste prevention, reuse, and repair instead of solely relying on recycling.
The report features notable examples of zero waste initiatives in action. For instance, Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, has achieved a 92% return rate for reusable tableware during city events and operates more than 10 municipal reuse and repair hubs. Additionally, Komunala Škofja Loka in Slovenia has successfully prevented the use of 23,000 single-use cups through a rental service launched in 2024. In Zagreb, measures such as banning single-use plastics in public buildings and expanding door-to-door waste collection have contributed to a 20% reduction in landfill waste and a 50% increase in separate waste collection.
Jack McQuibban, Head of Local Implementation at Zero Waste Europe, described the report in an interview with business-review.eu as “a dossier of hope.” He commented, “In these tough times, we are still able to showcase the fact that there are a growing number of municipalities, from Accra to Amsterdam, implementing bold and ambitious local zero waste solutions, proving that progressive environmental action can and must remain top of the agenda.”
The Zero Waste Europe report highlights how zero waste municipalities are demonstrating that effective and sustainable waste management can thrive on a local level, providing a range of strong models that other communities might look to in developing their own waste reduction strategies.
Source: Noah Wire Services