The policy instrument is the National Waste Management Plan 2021 – 2028 (NWMP) and, in particular, the Sub-programme for prevention of food waste along the entire food chain.
NWMP supports efficient and effective waste management in Bulgaria. The plan aims to reduce harmful effects of waste on the environment and health of the population, as well as maximising resource efficiency, opening up new markets and creating new jobs.
Within the NWMP 2021-2028, food waste management and prevention is addressed in Strategic Goal 1 namely: Reducing the harmful effects of waste by preventing its generation and encouraging its reuse, Sub-programme for the prevention of food waste.
Specific waste prevention measure in the sub-programme is: “reduction of generation of food waste in primary production, processing and manufacturing, retail and other distribution of food, in restaurants and food services, as well as households as a contribution to UN SDG 12.3”. It should help to reduce by 50 % per capita food waste and reduce food losses along production and supply chains by 2030.
This can be achieved by: (i) Development of municipal waste management programmes, including goals and measures for food waste prevention, and their implementation into practice; (ii) Implementation of demonstration projects for food waste prevention.
The total budget of the Sub-programme for food waste prevention is 20M EURO. Main beneficiaries are municipalities and branch organisations from the food industry.

Operational Programme “THALIA 2021-2027” constitutes a multi-annual, multi-fund development Programme outlining the development strategy for the utilization of the resources allocated to Cyprus through the Cohesion Policy Funds, for the period 2021-2027. The Programme:
- aims to create a robust and competitive economy through smart, digital and green investments, under conditions of full employment and social cohesion.
- aligns the development priorities of Cyprus with the new priorities and the five EU Policy Objectives for the period 2021-2027.
CIBUS will address Priority 5: ‘Climate Change and Circular Economy’ (Specific Objective: ‘Enhancing Circular Economy’) will be addressed, which includes actions to reduce production, separate collection and utilisation of waste. Priority 5 is budgeted with a total of €194.000.000 and it includes Specific Objective ‘Promotion of Circular Economy’.
Under this framework, a horizontal Operation of Strategic Importance is foreseen. This operation will fund sorting at source, separate collection, reuse, recycling and reduction of waste destined for landfill is sought (food waste included) and will be implemented by clusters of Local Authorities. They will receive finance support to design a local plan for proper waste management and for actions including sustainability studies, supply, and placement of infrastructure. The Call for the preparatory phase is open and proposals are under evaluation by the Department of Environment.

Alto Minho’s Strategic Plan for 2030 is an initiative of the Alto Minho’s Intermunicipal Community (CIM Alto Minho) and aims to establish a diagnosis, vision, strategy, and action plan for the 2021-27 Structural Funds programming period.
It resulted from a co-creation process and builds on the previous Alto Minho 2020 Strategy as well as with previous intervention frameworks. It is firmly bounded to the territory, to its dynamics and to its regional and cross-border context and relationships. It covers 4 thematic axes: 1) competitiveness; 2) attractiveness; 3) connection; and 4) resilience and is implemented through an action plan that integrates 9 action plans.
Action plan 4 is “sustainable Alto Minho” and it addresses waste management. Particularly relevant to the CIBUS project are the following investment priorities: “Promotion of endogenous resources through of the incorporation of added value, contributing to a more efficient economy supported by more circular and regenerative models” and the “Improvement of the levels of quality, service, integration and efficiency of waste management systems (focus on biowaste)”.
The Action Plan is a strategic reference for the development of the region. It is used to support decision making, including directing allocation of funds for CIM and other territorial stakeholders. It does not include its own budget allocation, but directs funding (EU / National / Local) towards its strategic interventions.

Vejle Municipality has a vision of being CO2-neutral in 2050. For reaching the vision, the Climate Plan of Vejle Municipality 2020-2050 has initiated 9 strategical goals across sectors for one of them is “from waste to resources”.
Vejle has settled goals for reduction CO2 emissions from the three most pollutive sectors in Vejle; farming, energy and transport. The sectors are supported with initiatives by value chain network activities, partnerships agreements and implementing renewable energy systems. Vejle works also for waste prevention across sectors by seeing waste as a resource, strengthen the value of the resource and to supporting businesses and the public to minimize more than reusing and recycling. One of the initiatives for food is avoiding food waste by buying and cooking less.
For reaching the goals, Vejle Municipality supports activities underpinning the strategic climate goals. Both the public, businesses and departments in the municipality have opportunities to search for smaller amount of funding from different funding programs to initiating new climate innovation and activities such as business support, training courses and advisor services for innovation work. The departments also develop action plans to reaching their sector-related goals. The progress of the action plans and funded climate projects are monitored, and the environmental performance (the climate foot print) of Vejle municipality is updated on yearly basis.

The Waste Management Plan of Maramures County WMPMC 2019-2025, that will be updated after 2025, in accordance with the County Strategy 2021-2027, sets the general framework for a sustainable management of the waste in the county. It has the following main objectives:
- gradual increase of the degree of preparation for the reuse and recycling of municipal waste
- separate collection of bio-waste
- increasing the degree of energy recovery of municipal waste
- reducing the amount of municipal biodegradable waste stored
- separate collection and treatment of hazardous waste
- encouraging the use in agriculture of materials resulting from bio-waste treatment
- separate collection of textile waste
- intensifying controls
- conducting information campaigns.
The measures included in the plan, in line with the CIBUS project focus are: prevention of food waste generation, responsibility for reducing food waste throughout the agro-food chain, the sale at a reduced price of products close to the expiration date of consumption, the transfer of food by donation, etc.
The WMPMC is a strategic document assumed by Maramures County Council containing measures and actions to be taken, that will be financed through the county council own budget
Other measures are trainings of the public authority’s personnel for reduction of food waste, establishing a procedure for controlling the food waste in the subordinated institutions.

“Green Growth Region Kanta-Häme 2022-2025” Regional Development Programme (RDP) is a new way of thinking and doing things.
RDP´s ambition is to consolidate regional RDI activities and expertise and develop the related support infrastructure, leaning on strong leading businesses and cooperating closely with the corporate interface. It combines RDI activities; skills and expertise; and infrastructure including housing and living spaces as a working system.
Kanta-Häme RDP contains the region´s S3 strategy. It is based on regional strengths: bio and circular economy, advanced sustainable food system; smart digital services and production processes in renewing business as well as smart, responsible and sustainable design. Green transition will support structural adjustment of the economy and underpin a carbon-neutral welfare society. Cooperation will cross regional boundaries both in Finland and Europe and on global markets.
Kanta-Häme region is a pioneer in transitioning industry and production into a green economy. The strategy promotes our aim in building a sustainable food system and preventing foodwaste, and in creating new business opportunities for all parties involved in the value chain of food production and consumption.

The Galway County Development Plan 2022 – 2028 was designed and approved in 2022, in line with an updated national and regional policy framework. This refers to the National Planning Framework (with sustainable management of waste, water and other environmental resources among its objectives) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the North West Region, which includes a Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan.
The Development Plan sets out a range of proposed policy objectives with supporting narrative for development. It is designed in the context of the County’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals and sets the framework for relevant strategies and investments. In accordance with national and regional policy, the plan seeks to develop the County in a sustainable and environmentally sensitive manner. It promotes the climate change agenda and it sets out housing and economic priorities.
The Plan includes various chapters of relevance to preventing and reducing food loss and waste. One priority is related to rural development, with a focus on creating a supportive environment for agro-food/food companies. Another is the priority on Climate Change, Energy and Renewable Resource, which state the County level mission to contribute to national waste objectives. These national objectives were published in Ireland’s Waste Policy 2020-2025, which commits to developing a Food Waste Prevention Roadmap and to promoting transition to a circular economy.

The Transversal Strategic Programme of Liège 2025 presents the strategic objectives and priority actions that the public authority undertakes to implement. It is based on a participatory design process, taking into consideration proposals from citizens, active forces, neighbourhood committees and collectives.
"Succeeding the climate transition" is a priority theme of the Strategic Programme 2025. Its objectives are to :
- create an economic centre dedicated to quality agro-food;
- support supply of local, organic produce to school canteens and nurseries;
- promote urban agriculture and community vegetable gardens;
- organise eco-responsible events and demonstrations in the territory of Liège;
- raise awareness and encourage all stakeholders to move towards Zero Waste, including reducing food waste;
- strengthen the dynamic linked to the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.
The work with stakeholders to move towards Zero Waste is particularly relevant to the improvements that the City hopes to make within Liege, providing incentives and support in this field, as is the cross over link to climate/energy plicy.
Actions carried within the Programme are funded by the City’s own budget, supplemented by regional and EU funds (e.g.: ERDF).
Each year, the City departments provide the authority with a report on their actions. These are compiled to produce the annual administrative report. This report can be consulted by political and administrative authorities and by citizens.