About the course
Are you ready to support your municipality in moving from traditional waste management to a truly systemic zero waste approach? This in-depth training program provides a comprehensive and strategic understanding of how to build a Zero Waste City and navigate the Zero Waste City certification process. Designed for municipal staff, sustainability experts, consultants, and local change-makers, the course combines system thinking, data literacy, to ensure complex concepts are translated into hands-on application.
Key dates:
- Registration – 18 February – 23 March 2026
- Training program on the online platform – 1 April – 1 June 2026
- Learners will get access to the platform - 23 March
Course investment:
- Early Bird Rate (25% off): €149 (excl. VAT) – Available until 18 March 2026.
- Standard Rate: €199 (excl. VAT) – For registrations between 18 February and 18 March 2026.
Modules & Content
| Module 1: Welcome to the course | Welcome word & how to navigate this course Assignment submission deadline 1 April |
| Module 2: Onboarding | Onboarding session 14.00 to 15.30 (CEST) |
| Module 3: Municipality Data | Municipality Data & Waste Data Analysis Assignment submission deadline 16 April |
| Module 4: Zero Waste & Zero Waste Cities | Zero Waste & Zero Waste Cities – Foundations Assignment submission deadline 23 April |
| Module 5: Data | Working with Data 14.00 to 16.00 (CEST) |
| Module 6: Independent onsite field visit | Independent Site Visit Assignment submission deadline 15 May |
| Module 7: Waste Treatment | Waste Treatment Methods 120 min live session - 11 May 11.00 to 13.00 (CEST)Preferred collection, sorting, recycling, and residual waste management. |
| Module 8: Waste Prevention | Waste Prevention & Reuse Systems Practical measures to reduce waste generation at source. Assignment submission deadline 19 May |
| Module 9: Advocacy & Communication | Advocacy & Communication Assignment submission deadline 20 May |
| Module 10: Site Visit Discussion, Waste Prevention, Advocacy and Communication | Discussion 120 min live session - 25 May 14.00 to 16.0 (CEST) |
| Module 11: Zero Waste Roleplay | Practice: role play game 240 min live session - 1 June 13.00 to 17.00 (CEST) Role Play: From Learning to Practice Simulation exercises to apply zero waste principles in realistic municipal contexts. |
Learning Outcomes
- By the end of the training course, the learners will:
understand what zero waste system is,
understand the Zero Waste City certification system in a basic level,
understands preferred waste management and treatment methods (the Zero Waste hierarchy),
be able to work with key waste-related data and understand the importance of data as a tool for advocacy,
understand waste prevention and waste reduction measures and why they are essential when building a Zero Waste City,
understand the key stakeholders in the process of building a zero waste city and how to engage them,
be able to put zero waste principles into practice in different contexts,
be able to advocate for a zero waste certification system.
Live Sessions Schedule
Interactive learning is at the heart of this course. To successfully complete the training and receive your certification, attendance at all live sessions is mandatory. Please confirm you are available for the following dates before proceeding:
| Live session | Date & Time |
|---|---|
| Live Session 1: Onboarding | 02 April | 14:00 – 15:30 (CEST) |
| Live Session 2: Working with Data | 29 April | 14:00 – 16:00 (CEST) |
| Live Session 3: Waste Treatment | 11 May | 14:00 – 16:00 (CEST) |
| Live Session 4: Site Visit Discussion | 25 May | 14:00 – 15:30 (CEST) |
| Live Session 5: Practice Role Play | 01 June | 13:00 – 17:00 (CEST) |
What makes this training different?
Unlike many circular economy programs, this training integrates systems thinking, applied data analysis, and behavioral insights. It offers a structured and practical pathway toward Zero Waste City certification, combining strategic understanding with implementation skills.
Your trainers
Ekologi brez meja (EBM) is a non-profit founded in 2009 and one of the leading Slovenian NGOs dedicated to improving the state of the environment — focusing on efficient resource use and active citizenship. EBM has been teaching zero waste practices to municipalities since 2014, businesses from a few years later.
Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine (ZWAU) is an alliance of NGOs working to reduce waste in Ukraine through implementation of zero waste strategies.
The Mission Zero Academy (MiZA) was set up as a spin-off of Zero Waste Europe to structure, formalise and professionalise the different tools, systems and approaches that ZWE has implemented for years. MiZA has designed and operates a Zero Waste Certification system for businesses, municipalities and trainers.
Zero Waste Estonia (ZWEE) is a non-profit organisation. Since autumn 2022, ZWEE is officially registered as an adult education provider in Estonia, a decision which came as a logical step when the BEZWA project was finishing. In 2023-2024, close to 350 learners took part in ZWEE’s courses. The majority of them were from Estonia, from the public sector (municipalities but also ministries and other governmental institutions), businesses, consultants and educators.
This training is funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme (Key Action 2 – Cooperation Partnerships in Adult Education) under project reference 2025-1-EE01-KA220-ADU-000362148 and is developed in collaboration with Zero Waste Estonia and its project partners: Ekologi Brez Meja (Slovenia), Mission Zero Academy, and Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine.
