Iloilo City, San Fernando (Pampanga) among UN’s 20 Cities Towards Zero Waste

Iloilo City and San Fernando, Pampanga have been named among the United Nations’ 20 Cities Towards Zero Waste, recognizing local governments that have demonstrated ambitious and innovative approaches to reducing waste.

The recognition highlights cities advancing circular economy solutions and building more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban systems.

The initiative is led by the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Zero Waste, with support from UN-Habitat and the UN Environment Programme.

The UN also recognized the following cities for their zero-waste efforts:

• Accra (Ghana)
• Bologna (Italy)
• Chefchaouen (Morocco)
• Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
• Dehiwala (Sri Lanka)
• Florianópolis (Brazil)
• Gaziantep (Türkiye)
• George Town (Malaysia)
• Hangzhou (China)
• Kisumu (Kenya)
• Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
• Lilongwe (Malawi)
• San Francisco (United States)
• Sanya (China)
• Suzhou (China)
• Varkala (India)
• Yokohama (Japan)
• Zapopan (Mexico)

According to the UN Environment Programme, the world generates more than 2.1 billion tons of municipal solid waste each year.

This underscores the critical role of cities in addressing the global waste crisis and its impacts on climate change, biodiversity, public health, and livelihoods.

The 20 Cities Towards Zero Waste initiative aims to recognize city leadership and innovation while promoting the exchange of best practices and lessons learned.

It also seeks to inspire other cities to pursue zero-waste strategies and adopt local-level circular economy approaches.

“Cities are at the frontline of the zero-waste transition. Local and regional governments are managing waste systems; they are reshaping local economies, influencing consumption patterns, and advancing inclusive solutions that integrate informal workers and communities,” said Anacláudia Rosbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat.

The UN official emphasized the importance of local governments in driving environmental and systemic change, noting that cities play a central role in advancing sustainable development.

“This initiative underscores the critical role of cities as implementers of change. It demonstrates how local action, when supported by strong governance and partnerships, can accelerate the transition toward more resilient, circular, and inclusive urban systems,” she added.

In a statement sent to GMA News Online, the Iloilo City Mayor’s Office said that with the city generating about 592 metric tons of waste daily, it is transitioning from a linear “take-make-dispose” model to a circular economy framework.

The framework is guided by the “10 Rs”: refuse, rethink, reduce, reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, repurpose, recycle, and recover.

The city is also implementing the Sustainable and Inclusive Resource Circularity (SIRC) program, which has achieved the following results:

• 2,290 metric tons of waste diverted from landfills
• P16.3 million generated from recyclable waste recovery and plastic credits
• 2,748 tCO?e in greenhouse gas emissions avoided
• 360 green livelihood opportunities created
• Around 10,000 individuals reached through awareness programs
• P1.6 million in savings through resource optimization
• Strong collaboration with 12 key partners, alongside the establishment of critical facilities and tools

“This global acknowledgment affirms that our local efforts are contributing to a much bigger movement toward sustainability, climate action, and responsible urban development,” the Iloilo City Mayor’s Office said.

“One ambitious yet innovative approach at a time, we continue to work tirelessly to develop programs aimed at reducing waste, advancing circular economy solutions, and building more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban systems,” it added.—MCG, GMA Integrated News