Varkala named in ‘20 Cities Towards Zero Waste’ initiative of UN

• Varkala in Kerala has been named in the inaugural 20 Cities Towards Zero Waste, an initiative led by the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Zero Waste, with support from UN-Habitat and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). 

• The initiative highlights cities demonstrating ambitious and innovative approaches to reducing waste, advancing circular economy solutions, and building more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban systems.

The selected cities are:

• Accra (Ghana)

• Bologna (Italy)

• Chefchaouen (Morocco)

• Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)

• Dehiwala City (Sri Lanka)

• Florianopolis (Brazil)

• Gaziantep (Turkey)

• George Town (Malaysia)

• Hangzhou City (China)

• Iloilo City (Philippines)

• Kisumu (Kenya)

• Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

• Lilongwe (Malawi)

• San Fernando (Philippines)

• San Francisco (United States)

• Sanya City (China)

• Suzhou City (China)

• Varkala (India)

• Yokohama (Japan)

• Zapopan (Mexico).

The initiative aims to:

• Recognise city leadership and innovation.

• Promote exchange of good practices and lessons learned.

• Inspire other cities to accelerate their transition toward zero waste.

• Support implementation of circular economy approaches at the local level.

• While still facing waste challenges, selected cities are implementing a wide range of solutions, including food waste prevention, organic waste management, reuse and refill systems, inclusive recycling models supporting informal workers, policies to reduce single-use products, and community engagement initiatives to drive behaviour change.

• The initiative contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). 

• The selected cities are recognised in connection with the International Day of Zero Waste and showcased on global platforms to share experiences and inspire further action.

• As urban populations grow, the leadership of these cities underscores the critical role of local governments in driving the transition toward a zero-waste and circular future.

International Day of Zero Waste

• Observed annually on 30 March, the International Day of Zero Waste highlights the importance of strengthening waste management globally and promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns. 

• The Day is jointly facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) 

• This year’s International Day of Zero Waste focuses on food waste, a critical yet preventable driver of environmental harm.

• The world is wasting food at an alarming scale, undermining food security and slowing progress toward a zero-waste, circular future. 

• Around 60 per cent of food waste happens at the household level. 

• The rest comes mostly from food service and retail, the result of inefficient food systems — including production, distribution and consumption. 

• Humanity generates more than 2.1 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, making cities a vital part of global efforts to tackle the waste crisis and its impacts on climate, biodiversity, public health, and livelihoods.

• Food waste is undermining food security and compromising progress toward a zero-waste, circular future. 

• Nearly 19 per cent of all food available to consumers is wasted every year, accelerating climate warming emissions and draining valuable resources such as land, water and energy. 

• Reducing food waste is a top climate solution, and a smart choice to protect resources and save money.