The City Council of Cologne has decided to develop a Zero Waste concept by the end of 2022 at the latest. The Wuppertal Institute, the Institute for Waste, Wastewater and Infrastructure Management (INFA), Zero Waste Germany and circulatemore are working together to bring Cologne one step closer to becoming a Zero Waste City. The concept contains specific goals for the next few years as well as measures to pave the way to a city with a lower volume of waste.
To this end, the researchers will first determine the status quo of waste volumes and compile previous activities in the context of waste avoidance. In addition, they will examine the extent to which the climate targets set so far in Cologne already adequately address the issue of waste prevention and where there is a need for adaptation. The criteria of Zero Waste Europe are used as a guide here. With the help of a participatory process – for example through workshops – different stakeholders of the Cologne population are involved in the development of measures. The concept finally contains a comprehensive catalog of measures that covers various areas, such as education and events, and is thus intended to support the goals set for waste prevention.