On December 14, 2022, the United Nations General Assembly acknowledged the significance of zero-waste programs and announced that March 30 would be celebrated as the International Day of Zero Waste every year starting from 2023. International Day of Zero Waste will encourage sustainable consumption and production practices and enhance understanding of the ways zero-waste efforts help to achieve the goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
The UN has provided data indicating that approximately 2.24 billion tons of municipal solid waste are produced each year, with only 55% of it being disposed of in managed facilities. In addition, an estimated 931 million tons of food are either lost or wasted annually, and as much as 14 million tons of plastic waste enters aquatic ecosystems each year.
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The International Day of Zero Waste, observed annually on March 30, is significant because it highlights the importance of reducing waste and promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns. The day encourages people to adopt practices that minimize waste, reuse and recycle materials, and reduce the amount of waste generated.
This day provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the negative impacts of waste on the environment, including landfills, pollution, and resource depletion. It also aims to promote the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by advancing Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 12, which aim to make cities and communities more sustainable and promote responsible consumption and production.
Through various activities and initiatives, such as clean-up campaigns, recycling drives, educational programs, and advocacy campaigns, the International Day of Zero Waste seeks to empower individuals, communities, and organizations to take action towards creating a more sustainable and waste-free world.
The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution on December 14, 2022, during its 77th session, designating March 30 as the International Day of Zero Waste, to be commemorated annually. The proposal, which was co-sponsored by Turkey and 105 other countries, is part of a series of resolutions that deal with waste, such as “End plastic pollution: towards an internationally legally binding instrument,” which was adopted at the United Nations Environment Assembly on March 2, 2022.
On the International Day of Zero Waste, member countries, United Nations organizations, civil society, private companies, academic institutions, young people, and other stakeholders are encouraged to participate in activities aimed at promoting awareness of national, subnational, regional, and local zero-waste initiatives and their contribution to sustainable development. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) jointly oversee the observance of the International Day of Zero Waste.
This international day serves to advance all of the objectives and targets in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 12, by promoting zero-waste initiatives that address all forms of waste, such as food loss and waste, natural resource depletion, and electronic waste.
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