Towards Zero Waste – Part 1: Classification of Global Strategies and Policy Interventions

IJEP 45(13): 1212-1219 : Vol. 45 Issue 13 (Conference 2025)

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Nitin Muttil1,2 and Swadesh Kumar Singh2*2

1. UPES, School of Advanced Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Dehradun, Misraspatti – 248 007, Uttarakhand, India
2. Victoria University, Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Melbourne, VIC 8001, Australia

Abstract

The concept of zero-waste is gaining momentum worldwide as countries and cities move toward more sustainable paths. Although it can be described in various ways, this study adopts the definition of reducing, reusing and recycling all generated waste to avoid landfilling or incineration. Zero-waste does not mean eliminating all waste, as that is practically impossible. Instead, it focuses on treating and transforming 100% of the waste into useful resources. Since complete diversion from landfills is a significant challenge, both governments and private agencies worldwide have developed strategies and policies to improve waste management. This paper is the first in a two-part series that provides a comprehensive review of global approaches developed by governments and private organizations to achieve zero-waste objectives. These approaches are systematically categorized into five main groups: education-based strategies, incentive-driven approaches, waste reduction measures, resource recovery methods based on the reduce, reuse, recycle (3Rs) principles and policy- and regulation-driven interventions. By analyzing these frameworks and initiatives, the study highlights diverse methods for achieving zero-waste and offers lessons for improving waste management practices. The second paper in the series focuses on case studies of thirty cities actively implementing or developing zero-waste strategies.

Keywords

Zero-waste, Sustainable waste management, Waste recycling, Circular economy, Resource recovery, Sustainable development goals

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