Cities on both sides of the Mediterranean face important environmental challenges and increasing costs to collect and treat waste, including expensive investments in landfills or incinerators. The MED-InA project proposes to develop and roll out a methodology for a “Zero Waste” public policy adapted to Mediterranean cities as an exemplary and participatory approach for waste reduction, reuse and recycling. It involves 5 countries: France, Jordan, Lebanon, Spain and Tunisia.

As pandemic-related restrictions eased through 2021, MED-InA activities could resume in the 3 pilot cities of Irbid (Jordan), Carcaixent (Spain) and La Marsa (Tunisia): revising/drafting municipal waste management plans, supporting citizens with their behavioural change, and fostering innovative projects through incubators.

What comes next?

2021 saw project activities resume on the ground, and by the end of 2022 it will be time to assess their impact on the advancement of Zero Waste approaches in the 3 pilot cities. Over the next year, the main actions planned are the following:

• Adoption of the proposed Integrated Solid Waste Management Plans at municipal level (both as a policy decision and in consultation with citizens regarding the deployment details and logistics of waste management equipment)
• Continuation of citizen coaching and organisation of social events (collective challenges and clean-up days, through local communication channels and the GD6D app used by households involved in behavioural change)
• Connecting the MED-InA prize winner start-ups with the municipalities and with international partners for collaboration, scaling up and mutual inspiration
• Mentoring sessions and field visit for the pilot city staff to get advice and inspiration from advanced Zero Waste communities in the Mediterranean

Find out everything you need to know about the project's past and future activities in our 2022 Newsletter available in English, French, Arabic and Spanish !