The idea of reaching for zero waste is contagious and improves with each new effort to reach 90% or more diversion from landfill and incinerators.
The city of Parma, Italy, population 190,000 jumped from 45% recycling in 2012 to just under 75% this year. Intensive curbside recycling, buttressed by a pay as you throw system and lots of education allowed them to jump to new levels of recycling within four years of reaching 45% recycling.
Per capita waste declined by a dramatic 59% in only four years and added 44 direct jobs to the local economy. The city has saved $700,000 in these four years.
Download The Story of Parma – a case study by Zero Waste Europe, 2016.
