How one city in France is working together to reduce waste

This post by Marco Quaglia is cross-posted from Shareable

With an annual average of 243 kg (over 535 pounds) of waste per capita, citizens of Roubaix, in the north of France, were producing less than half their country’s average Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). Yet their aim to reduce it even further has brought about the Zero Waste Challenge.

image screenshot from the Roubaix Zero Waste Challenge website

Despite having no executive power on separate collection and other
waste-related activities, the city has started a program to lead the
zero waste movement in France. The initiative challenges around one
hundred volunteer families to reduce the amount of solid waste produced
at household level by 50 percent over the course of a year. Offering
support through an array of events like workshops, coaching initiatives,
and other activities such as food exchanges, the program gives no
directions — only suggestions. Interestingly, the program bypasses any
intermediaries, therefore creating a direct channel between the city and
the families taking part.

After the first year, results were more than encouraging, with 70
percent of participating families having reduced their waste production
by around 40 percent, while 25 percent of them had achieved an 80
percent reduction. The policy is now also replicated to target other
actors such as public offices, four schools, and shopkeepers in the
urban area of Roubaix.

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This article was adapted from our latest book, “Sharing Cities: Activating the Urban Commons.” Download your free pdf copy today.

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