European regions joined forces to fight waste

On June 27th and 28th, the city of Viseu (Portugal) hosted the first Steering Committee Meeting and the first Interregional Workshop of StopWaste, the European waste reduction project that started in February 2023 and is led by the Viseu Dão Lafões Intermunicipal Community (CIM Viseu Dão Lafões). Representatives from the European regions participating in the project gathered at Montebelo Viseu Congress Hotel. These regions include Viseu Dão Lafões in Portugal, Alytus in Lithuania, Bucharest-Ilfov in Romania, and the Municipality of Almere in the Netherlands. On the first day of the event, the Steering Committee Meeting started with welcoming statements. This was followed by a project debriefing by Dora Fazekas and Ana Ladeira, as well as presentations on the communication strategy and the plan by Pedro Soutinho (CEDES). In the second part of the first day, each project partner gave a presentation about their region and their project. The day concluded with a short debate on the expected impacts of StopWaste and the adaptability of shared policies and practices in the territorial context, followed by a networking session. After the Steering Committee Meeting, the Interregional Workshop "Embrace Zero Waste Change - Working to Reduce Plastic Footprint and Food Waste" took place the following day. The day started with a welcome session by Fernando Ruas, President of the CIM Viseu Dão Lafões. After the Introduction to the StopWaste Project by Nuno Martinho, Executive Secretary – Intermunicipal Council, presentations and thematic panels followed. Luís Francisco Filipe, Executive Member of the CENTRO 2030 Operational Program, presented the Regional Program CENTRO 2030, followed by a panel on "Food Waste Reduction" with Bárbara Garção representing the National Commission to Combat Food Waste - CNCDA, Ondina Afonso, President of the Continente Producers Club, and Susana Freitas, representing LIPOR. In the afternoon, the panel "Reducing the Plastic Footprint" took place, in which José Portela, Executive Secretary of the Association of Municipalities of Planalto Beirão, characterized the waste management system in the Viseu Dão Lafões region. The following panel was dedicated to the "State of the Art and Policy Challenges," featuring interventions by Patrícia Carvalho, Coordinator of the Portuguese Pact for Plastics - Smart Waste Portugal, Paula Quinteiro and Ana Timmons-Barros representing CESAM (Center for Environmental and Marine Studies) from the University of Aveiro, João Leão representing VIVA Lab, and Ricardo Morgado from THE LOOP.