30 March 2023 – First International Day of Zero Waste

This year marks the first day dedicated to raising social awareness of the importance of Zero Waste and striving for responsible production and consumption. Urban waste management contributes to the achievement of sustainable development and is recognized as a common goal of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Habitat Program (UN-Habitat). UNEP and UN-Habitat are the initiators of this environmental initiative, which will influence the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The waste sector affects climate change, biodiversity and pollution of natural resources. Globally, more than two billion tons of municipal solid waste are generated annually, of which only half is managed under controlled conditions. More than 900 million tons of food ends up as waste annually, and therefore good waste management would have a positive impact on food safety, people's health, and thus on their well-being.

The role that international standards play in better waste management is enormous: in addition to establishing general terminology, they provide guidelines for waste reduction, recycling, composting and biodegradation, controlled incineration and final disposal of waste. ISS NTC Z183, Circular Economy and Waste Management (https://iss.rs/en/committee/show/9124) is responsible for the adoption of SRPS standards in this area, harmonized with international (ISO) and European (EN) standards.