Hello there,

I let you in on a personal secret: I love heroic stories. 🦸🏽

Such stories can motivate and show the way. They can bring the 'seemingly impossible - suddenly within reach".
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This week, I'm working in Mauritius 🇲🇺. Highlighting the circular economy as a new business proposition and innovating through "Zero Waste workshops".

Circular can also be a solution to the growing waste problem.

It is a multifaceted problem - which I love to help solve globally. 1 landfill at a time.

As a 1st step, I share the story of Tilos.

❌ Until 2021, 87% of it waste was buried in a landfill.
❌ Marine debris affected the coastal ecosystems.
❌ People and tourist were littering.
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Everything changed with the "Just Go Zero Tilos" project:
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♻️ The island transformed into a zero waste model in just 2 years.
♻️ Achieving a recycling rate of over 90%,
♻️ Closing its renown landfill.

What struck me:

1. An Engagement Team educated the population for months (!)📚: The project enhanced the quality of life for its residents.
2. Transformation of a Landfill 🚮 into a Circular Innovation Hub.
3. Boosting the Economy & creating jobs 💼
4. Soil Regeneration 🌱Composting played a vital role in Tilos' zero waste strategy, providing high-quality natural fertilisers for the island's soil.
5. Banning Single-Use Plastics 🚫

Tilos is not alone...

​Zero Waste Cities are showing the way🌐

Here are some examples of a growing group - from all corners of the world:

1. ​Accra (Ghana): Recovered over 300 tons of waste, transforming organic waste into compost. Created urban gardening hubs using composted waste.
2. ​Curitiba (Brazil): Improved waste collection and recycling rates through community engagement. Implemented innovative urban planning to support waste management.
3. ​Edinburgh (Scotland): Building new facilities for energy recovery from waste. Implemented advanced recycling technologies to meet zero-waste targets.
4. ​Kamikatsu (Japan): Residents separate waste into 45 categories for thorough recycling and composting. Saved a third of former waste incineration costs through recycling.
5. ​Ljubljana (Slovenia): Demonstrated successful zero-waste strategies through partnerships and innovation. Achieved high recycling rates through comprehensive waste management systems.
6. ​Mexico City (Mexico): Reduced landfill needs and utilized biogas from the closed landfill for electricity. Implemented waste-to-energy projects to reduce environmental impact.
7. ​Pune (India): Diverted over 80,000 metric tons of waste from landfills annually. Improved waste pickers' livelihoods through formal employment.
8. ​San Francisco (USA): Diverted over 80% of waste from landfills through recycling and composting. Created economic opportunities through recycling and composting industries.
9. ​Santiago (Chile): Collected 17.5 tons of food waste, with 70% composted and 30% donated. Reduced food waste by promoting sustainable market practices.

My Aha Moment 🤩

When we worked on making Amsterdam's a 100% circular city, I realised the huge potential cities have. And the power to include citizens into the creation of modern cities.

A potential that is often untapped...

Call to action: Can we turn all landfills into 'Circular Innovation Centers'? 🚀

I got an idea for you: Why not write to your mayor and suggest to turn your city into a "Zero Waste City"?

​Here you can find inspiration in case studies.​

It's worth a try. Message me if you get stuck.
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Be happy. be circular,

Harald

Where to find me next - and other circular enthusiasts - in the near future: