The International Day of Zero Waste will be marked annually starting in 2023 after the United Nations General Assembly officially acknowledged the significance of zero-waste initiatives on December 14, 2022. The International Day of Zero Waste seeks to encourage sustainable consumption and production practices as well as to increase public awareness of how zero-waste projects advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Mankind produces an estimated 2.24 billion tons of municipal solid garbage per year, with just 55% handled in regulated facilities. This figure might climb to 3.88 billion tons per year by 2050. The waste sector contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions in metropolitan areas and also leads to biodiversity loss. Each year, over 931 million tons of food are wasted, and up to 37 million tons of plastic trash are predicted to reach the ocean annually by 2040.

Zero-waste projects promote better waste management by reducing and preventing waste. This helps to reduce pollution, mitigate the climate crisis, conserve biodiversity, improve food security, and enhance human wellness.

In order to raise awareness of national, subnational, regional, and local zero-waste initiatives and their contribution to achieving sustainable development, member states, organizations of the United Nations system, civil society, the private sector, academia, youth, and other stakeholders are invited to participate in activities during International Day of Zero Waste. The International Day of Zero Waste is promoted jointly by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). Promoting zero-waste initiatives on this day aids to further the goals and targets in the 2023 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Play your part for future free from waste and enriched with nature!