What if managing waste didn’t have to feel complicated? The Zero Waste Handbook is designed to help you shift how you think about resources—not just what to do, but how to see the whole system differently.
Created during the two Erasmus+ funded projects “Building the European Zero Waste Academy”, this second edition brings together the latest research in waste management and waste prevention with real, practical experience from the field. It is built for zero waste beginners, community organisers, municipalities starting their zero waste journey, and mentors guiding cities and businesses along the way.
Learn to Act, Not Just Read
This handbook is structured to foster long-term learning:
- Opening questions: Activate your existing knowledge before diving in.
- Pause-and-reflects prompts: Prompts woven throughout the text to deepen understanding.
- Closing reflection: Connect what you’ve learner directly to real-world action.
Use it cover-to-cover, pull out individual chapters for training sessions, or share specific topics with your own learners. The goal is to build a new mental model where zero waste thinking becomes second nature, because once you truly see resources differently, there’s no going back.
Explore the Handbook Chapters
Prefer to dive into a specific topic? Browse, read, or download individual chapters below to suit your immediate learning or training needs:
00. Introduction
01. Zero Waste Basics
02. Zero Waste, Wellbeing, and Values
03. Zero Waste Cities Model
04. Waste Data Basics
05. Waste Collection
06. Waste Treatment
07. Waste Policy and Advocacy
08. Action Guide for Local Policy
09. Communication and Storytelling
10. Engaging People and Awareness-Raising Activities
11. The Role of Mentoring in The Zero Waste Journey
12. Support and Resources from Zero Waste Europe and Mission Zero Academy
15. Terminology
13. Training Video Guide for Zero Waste Practitioners
14. Zero Waste Role Play Game
The handbook will be available soon in French, Slovenian, Ukrainian and Estonian. Can’t find the language you are looking for? Contact us now.