The Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA) is a worldwide network formed in 2003 to promote positive alternatives to landfill and incineration and to raise community awareness of the social and economic benefits to be gained when wasted materials are regarded as resources which can create both employment and business opportunities.
At the urging of First Lady of Türkiye, Emine Erdoğan, the United Nations (UN) has proclaimed March 30, 2023 “International Day of Zero Waste.”
We enthusiastically support the UN in this effort and will work to ensure that the UN and its Member States recognize the internationally peer-reviewed definition of Zero Waste and follow the Zero Waste hierarchy, which emphasizes that redesign and reduction are the primary strategies for Zero Waste and any form of burning is not acceptable.
“Zero Waste: The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.”
Richard Anthony, President of ZWIA, will attend the UN meeting of Member States, international and regional organizations, and other stakeholders on March 30, 2023 to raise awareness of national, subnational, regional, and local Zero Waste initiatives and their contribution to achieving sustainable development.
ZWIA urges that the pursuit of Zero Waste be founded on environmental and social justice principles that help create vibrant communities in harmony with nature. These have been codified in the Zero Waste Declaration with the follow key elements:
- Center Equity
- Redesign
- Ban wasteful products
- Make producers responsible for problem products
- Separate at the source
- Rescue food and compost organics
- Support and expand repair and reuse
- Build Zero Waste infrastructure
- End welfare for wasting
- Advocate and adapt as needed
ZWIA encourages all Zero Waste affiliates and advocates to promote the International Day of Zero Waste on March 30, 2023 and take the opportunity to educate elected officials, businesses, institutions, and constituents to pursue Zero Waste as a primary strategy for meeting the UN’s sustainability goals.
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