Deadline

In response to the UN Secretary-General’s call for transformative waste action, the Advisory Board on Zero Waste is inviting cities to submit a brief project outline and complete the short questionnaire by 19 September 2025 at 23:59 EAT (UTC+3). Selected cities will be celebrated among the “20 Zero Waste Cities”, gaining global visibility and high-level endorsement to inform policy, unlock funding, and catalyze peer learning. Your city’s participation is a unique opportunity to showcase leadership in innovation, inclusiveness, and holistic sustainability, and to inspire others to replicate your success. Coastal cities in particular are encouraged to apply.

Background: On 30th March 2023, the UN Secretary-General formed the Advisory Board on Zero Waste in accordance with the UN General Assembly Resolution 77/161. Selected for its knowledge and expertise, the Board consists of 11 eminent members showcasing and publishing good practices and success stories, and ​raising awareness and promoting local and national zero waste initiatives. The Advisory Board focuses on sharing good practices, case studies and thematic briefs to accelerate the global transition towards sustainable waste management, aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Advisory Board’s Secretariat is hosted by UN-Habitat and UNEP.

The Advisory Board on Zero Waste is calling for exemplary Zero Waste Cities.

Fill in this short submission questionnaire and submit to advisoryboard.zerowaste@un.org. Please note that this questionnaire may be filled in any preferred UN language.

  1. Please name the file “Your City’s name”

  2. Include in the subject line: 20 Zero Waste Cities “Your City’s name” 

Outcome: Twenty submissions will be published and showcased by the Advisory Board and highlighted on its dedicated webpage. The successful submissions will also be spotlighted by the Advisory Board members at high-level events. 

Criteria:

  • Impact & Sustainability

  • Zero Waste Communications & Outreach

  • Policy Framework

  • Partnerships & Collaboration

  • Inclusiveness & Social Equity

  • Innovation & Technology

  • Financial Sustainability

  • Scalability & Transferability

  • Monitoring & Reporting

Find the full criteria here.

 Indicative Timeline:

  • Deadline:                                            19 September 2025 at 23:59 EAT (UTC+3)

  • Selection and communication:      September – October 2025

  • Publish selected cities:                   Tentatively 4-6 November 2025

Support Clinic:

Should you have any ad hoc questions or need specific support in filling in or submitting the questionnaire, the Advisory Board’s Secretariat offers three Microsoft Teams calls on the following days:

  1. Thursday, 14 August 2025 form 14:00-15:00 EAT (UTC+3) – Register here.

  2. Wednesday, 27 August 2025 from 10:00-11:00 EAT (UTC+3) – Register here.

  3. Monday, 8 September 2025 from 17:00-18:00 EAT (UTC+3) – Register here.

Other:

For more information and questions, please contact: advisoryboard.zerowaste@un.org.