Syracuse to host the next URBAN-WASTE Mutual Learning event after the summer holidays

While the implementation phase of eco-innovative measures is in full swing in the project’s 11 pilot cities, the Municipality of Syracuse will welcome the representatives of these 11 cities and regions in order to discuss marketing measures and communicating good practices to different target groups.

The various measures being implemented in the 11 pilot cities and regions vary from promotion and installation of water fountains for tourists, collaboration with tourism establishments including hotels and restaurants, in order to minimise food waste production, improving tourists performances when it comes to waste separation on holidays and more. The essential challenge for these 11 pilots is to maximise the outreach and thus the efficiency of these measures. This is why the next Mutual learning event in Syracuse will focus on marketing measures and how to reach out to different target groups. Apart from the mutual exchange of practices and achievements, numerous guest speakers will enrich the event with their own examples of successful campaigns, measures and initiatives.

Dimitra Rappou, from the North london Waste Authority will report on their “London Upcycling Show” which attracted a lot of attention last year. Gaetano Russo of the Region of Sicily will join us, too, for disseminating the results of their campaign and project “Sicilia Rigenera”. Both these projects, from London and Sicily were finalists of last year’s European Week for Waste Reduction what makes them a valuable contributor to the event. In order to promote the European Week for Waste Reduction as a campaign and a platform for boosting the visibility and outreach of certain initiatives like these, Mireia Padros Tremoleda of the Catalan Waste Agency will present the campaign itself on behalf of its coordinating body. Rute Carvalho, coming from one of our pilots, the Municipality of Lisbon will present their own campaign and project focusing on waste prevention “Trash can wait! Extend the life of your objects”.

The Mutual Learning event will be preceded by a Municipality Forum which will feature the 11 pilots and which will allow them to reflect on monitoring of their ongoing implementation phases. These two days in Syracuse will also include several study visits in order to get an insight in local waste management practices, such as the door to door collection of various waste streams as well as local start-ups’ efforts to improve waste management in this Sicilian city.