The Regional Development Programme of the Ljubljana Urban Region is a basic programmatic, strategic, and implementation document at the regional level designed to harmonise the region’s development objectives, determine the relevant instruments, and assess the funds needed for their realisation.

RDP LUR 2021–2027 was approved by the Development Council of the Ljubljana Urban Region and the Council of the Ljubljana Urban Region on 21 June 2022.

The Programme is structure in three development priorities: 1. A creative region of opportunity; 2. A smart region tailored to people; 3. A green region of sustainable solutions; which are divided into various programmes, several of which are directly related to the project's issue and areas of action:

1.6. Transition of the region to a circular economy
3.1. Sustainable mobility
3.2. Sustainable spatial planning
3.5. Energy management
3.6. Adaptation to climate change

The total indicative value of the RDP LUR 2021–2027 on the basis of the recorded needs of the region is 1.8 billion euros.

The Single Programming Document (SPD), approved by the Assembly of Associated Municipalities in July 2022, runs urban waste management for the 19 associated municipalities. It is a mandatory tool that enables local authorities to address environmental and organizational challenges systematically and uniformly. The SPD is updated and approved in July annually (e.g. SPD 2024-2026 will be approved in July 2023, and the process repeats every year). It consists of 2 sections:

The Strategic Section aligns Consortium strategic guidelines with regional planning. One of these guidelines is to achieve sustainable waste management by reintegrating it into the production cycle. Objectives include economic and environmental valorisation of recovered materials in line with proximity-based principles; incentives for self-composting/community composting and for greater use of the reuse centres, support for research and innovation in advanced recycling technologies, promotion of public awareness campaigns, cooperation and dialogue between waste management stakeholders.

The Operational Section contains the operational planning of the Consortium with reference to annual and multi-year period. It outlines the actions to be undertaken to achieve the strategic objectives defined in the Strategic Section.
Both sections are divided into Missions and Programmes. For CLEAR CITIES, Mission 9 is relevant:
M9 Sustainable Development and Protection of the Territory and the Environment/Programme 3 WASTE

The general strategic objective of Regional Programme 2021-2027 Bucharest-Ilfov is to increase regional economic competitiveness and improve the living conditions of local communities in the region by supporting the development of the business environment, infrastructure and public services, so that they are able to effectively manage resources, to capitalize on the potential for innovation and assimilation of technological progress.

Within this PI, the priority to be addressed through the CLEAR CITIES project will be P3 ”An environmentally friendly region” (equivalent to P.O.2 Greener Europe). Considering that S.O. “Circular and resource-efficient economy” is not specifically reflected within this PI, the S.O. that will be addressed is “Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions”, as it is considered to be the most aligned with the objectives of the CLEAR CITIES project, aiming to establish more effective waste management models with reduced GHG emissions. Transforming waste management into an efficient and resilient system will allow the optimization of waste separation, reuse, and recycling rates, thereby contributing to a significant increase in resource efficiency.

13 municipalities have worked with GR to achieve the goals
WASTE PREVENTION in households (must be reduced by 30%/inhabitant) and in the municipality's activities (must be reduced by 40% / full-time employee)
RECYCLING. At least 20% of the solid waste that the municipality collects must be prepared for reuse; All residents must have opportunities to leave products for reuse; Conditions for the municipality's operations to reuse products.
COLLECTION & RECYCLING. At least:
-90% of all waste submitted to recycling centres must be correctly sorted
-70% of the generated food waste must go to nutrient recovery and biogas production
-Waste transport must be 10% more energy efficient; Vehicles, machines and facilities within the municipality's waste operations must be operated fossil-free
-70% of the contents of the residual waste must be properly sorted
PHYSICAL PLANNING. Location of larger waste facilities for both present and future needs (physical planning); The location of the waste infrastructure is secured in detailed plans and building permits.
USER FOCUS. At least 90% of the users must be satisfied with the waste management; At least 90% of users should find it easy to prevent, reuse and manage waste properly; At least 90% of users must experience good treatment.
LITTERING. Coastline must be cleaned regularly. Litter on the ground to be reduced by 50%.
Target area: Procurements; Availability; Business development; Knowledge; Service and system development in the municipality

The Municipal Integral Waste Plan of Gijón developed by EMULSA is a comprehensive framework that follows the waste management hierarchy. The revision and update of the current waste plan for the 2023-2028 period is under implementation and it ensures a sustainable and efficient approach to waste handling. This plan also establishes strategic lines and outlines the measures required to meet the community needs related to waste management in the city focusing on the reduction of waste generation, the increase of waste collected separately for reuse or recycling, the reduction of the negative effects (carbon footprint among them) derived from the collection activity itself, as well as the adaptation of the collection services to the new municipal mobility ordinance, awareness campaigns, education programs, as its main objectives an areas to be covered.

Specific measures are included for the implementation of new separate collections and for the improvement of those that are being implemented, significant reduction of GHG emissions as well as the use of new technologies that help to achieve the waste targets set by the European Directives and the current regulatory framework. This plan contributes to the consolidation of a sustainable model, contributing to the reduction of CO2, the promotion of recycling, the reduction of waste generation and energy recovery and efficiency, as well as establishing a circular economy in the city of Gijón.

Burgas Management Waste Programme (WMP) complies with local government and Waste Management Act. Its objectives align with Directive (EU) 2018/851 of 30 May 2018 amending Directive 2008/98/EC aiming sustainable waste management system by reducing the negative impacts of waste, promoting reuse; increasing the volume of recycled waste to enhance resource efficiency and facilitate a smart and sustainable transition; reducing the amount of landfilled waste by the adoption of procedures that reduce consumption and waste generation.

Strategic objectives addressed through the project:
SO1: Reducing the harmful effects of waste by preventing generation and foster reuse; SO2: Increasing recycled and recovered waste; SO3: Reducing risk of landfilled municipal waste.

WMP consists of 4 programs and 3 sub-programs that meet national waste priorities:
-Waste prevention and food waste sub-programme
-Recycling and use of construction and demolition waste
-Recycling and recovery targets of the mass spread waste with a packaging waste management and reduction of landfilled domestic waste sub-programmes.
-Preparation for re-use and recycling of domestic waste: addressed in the project and related to SO2 and to achieving the SO of the current subprogram and measures from the other subprograms about the fee for household waste based on the amount of discarded waste by applying the "polluter pays" principle, as required by the 2024 Local Taxes and Fees Act in State Gazette Nº16 23/02/2021.

Apeldoorn Municipality is responsible for developing and implementing the Recycleservice, aligning with the goals outlined in the Municipal Strategy on Spatial Planning and Environment of Apeldoorn (which establishes guidelines for Apeldoorn's sustainable development until 2040). This policy instrument also fulfils the obligation imposed to municipalities in Netherlands to collect household waste and promote circular economy of materials. Both conditions guarantee the continuation of the policy instrument in the future (Apeldoorn 2030 is already planned for development).

The main objective of the Recycleservice 2025 is to achieve the goal of 30 kg of residual household waste per person and year. This approach will be accomplished by the completion of specific objectives, which are:

- To minimize the total amount of waste, and particularly residual waste.
- To maximize separation percentages
- To increase recycle percentages

To ensure proper Recycleservice 2025 implementation, procedures such as reversed collection, high service for separated resources, low service for fine residual waste, and pay-as-you-throw for residual waste are carried out. Different collection methods are employed for specific types of household waste (diapers, medicines, textiles, white and brown goods). The implementation of a differentiated rate system helps control the streams of waste materials.