Zoersel, 17 September 2024 – Zoersel has officially joined the ranks of candidate Zero Waste municipalities in Europe.
The Municipality of Zoersel has committed to obtaining the Zero Waste Cities Certification from Mission Zero Academy (MiZA), becoming the first Belgian municipality to embark on this transformative journey. This step follows Zoersel’s already impressive performance in waste reduction, with residents generating an average of only 81 kg of residual waste per person in 2022, significantly below the Flemish average of 128 kg. Through this certification, Zoersel aims to further reduce waste and enhance sustainability across the community.
In response to both global and local waste and climate challenges, Zoersel has partnered with Zero Waste Europe and Mission Zero Academy—organizations that provide expert guidance and tools for transitioning communities to ‘zero waste.’ This collaboration positions Zoersel as the first Belgian municipality to pursue the Zero Waste Cities Certification, a pioneering initiative that sets stringent goals for waste reduction.
“The cooperation with Zero Waste Europe and MiZA is a natural next step in our commitment to lowering residual waste,” said Marc de Cordt, Alderman for the Environment. “While we recognize that achieving zero residual waste is a long-term goal, we are determined to make significant progress. Our immediate target is to reduce residual waste to 70 kg per inhabitant and ensure that no more than 10% of total waste is non-recyclable or non-compostable, with 90% diverted to more sustainable processes.”
These targets represent the first milestones on Zoersel’s journey to becoming a certified Zero Waste City. However, the municipality’s ambitions extend beyond these goals. “One area we are eager to tackle is litter reduction,” de Cordt added. “Our first workshop with MiZA is scheduled for this afternoon, where we will start leveraging their expertise to refine our strategy and identify areas for further improvement.”
The international community has already taken note of Zoersel’s leadership in waste management. Kaisa Karjalainen, Director of the Mission Zero Academy, remarked: “We are thrilled to welcome Zoersel as our first Belgian municipality to enter the Certification. The town’s residual waste figures are impressive, and their drive for continuous improvement is aligned with the ethos of all Zero Waste Cities. We look forward to seeing how Zoersel’s strategy evolves over the coming years.”
Zoersel is adopting a collaborative approach to this challenge. Liesbeth Verstreken, Mayor of Zoersel, emphasized the importance of community involvement: “Once we identify areas for improvement, we will actively engage our residents to move forward together. The ‘polluter pays’ principle, which holds waste producers accountable for their environmental impact, has already raised awareness, but we also plan to offer practical solutions to help residents reduce waste at its source.”
Looking ahead, the certification process includes a mid-term evaluation after two years, during which MiZA will audit Zoersel’s progress across various criteria. Based on this evaluation, the municipality will receive a Zero Waste Cities Certification, with ratings ranging from one to five stars. “This is just the beginning,” de Cordt concluded. “Our long-term goal is a cleaner, more sustainable future for all our citizens, and we will continue working toward that vision even after certification.”
Press contacts
Solène Fargeix / solene@missionzeroacademy.eu / +33781061188
