Slovenian pioneer municipalities hold steady at 3 out of 5 stars, more than a decade after becoming among the first municipalities in Europe to join the Zero Waste certification
Slovenia – The municipalities of Vrhnika, Log-Dragomer, and Borovnica have successfully maintained their Zero Waste Municipality certification following the re-audit conducted in early June, more than three years after their initial assessment. The three municipalities retained 3 out of a possible 5 stars, the maximum rating awarded by the European certification.
The re-audit was carried out alongside practical training for future mentors and auditors as part of the BEZWA2 project.
Consistent engagement
The evaluation found that the municipalities have sustained the same level of environmental commitment and public awareness recorded during their first audit. Lead auditor Kristiina Kerge, of Zero Waste Estonia, emphasized the importance of continuous progress monitoring.
“The re-audit highlighted how important it is for municipalities to continuously monitor their progress and maintain a multi-stakeholder approach to waste reduction. In the future, municipalities should also evaluate how their policies translate into actual results, particularly in promoting efficient resource use and ensuring equitable access to tools and solutions that help prevent waste generation.”
At the award ceremony, the Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Vrhnika, Mirko Antolović, highlighted the role of citizens in the achieved results: “Over more than 30 years, we can be proud of the fact that waste separation has become part of the everyday habits of our citizens. No matter how well-designed the system is, it would not have achieved such results without their cooperation. The three stars are therefore also a recognition of our citizens and an encouragement to take the next steps together.”
The Mayor of Borovnica Municipality, Peter Črnilogar, emphasized that the achievements encourage the municipality to continue making progress: “The municipal administration and citizens strive to be an example of the circular economy and its benefits. We have made some important steps, and the challenges of maintaining what has been achieved further motivate us to set new goals.”
The Mayor of the Municipality of Log-Dragomer, Miran Stanovnik, who was unable to attend the award ceremony, said upon the renewal of the certificate: “We are happy with the three stars, but of course we want to continue to improve. The audit showed where there is still room for improvement, and we accept its recommendations as an opportunity for progress. We believe that through mutual cooperation, citizen involvement, and the promotion of more sustainable daily habits, we can achieve even better results.”
Vrhnika, Log-Dragomer, and Borovnica have been part of the Zero Waste initiative from the very beginning. They joined the network in September 2014, becoming the first Slovenian municipalities to do so. Together, the three municipalities are home to more than 26,000 residents across an area of just over 180km2.
Waste management in all three municipalities is managed by the Public Utility Company Vrhnika (JKPV) under a joint Zero Waste Plan and Strategy (2021–2030). JKPV is heavily integrated into the zero-waste concept, including through its DEPO unit and its operations.
Vrhnika’s history with separate waste collection dates back to 1994, when the municipality introduced household sorting at the initiative of the Vrhnika Utility Company, well ahead of any other Slovenian municipality at the time and seven years before sorting became a national legal requirement in 2001.
How successful the system is in practice
- Separation rate: The Vrhnika region The region has maintained an average separate waste collection rate of approximately 83% over the past decade, with only one year falling below 82%, well above the Slovenian average.
- Population vs. Waste growth: Between 2015 and 2025, the population of the three municipalities grew by 12%, while collected packaging waste volumes increased by31%, indicating that sorting participation is expanding faster than the population itself.
- Hazardous waste: Residents of Vrhnika separately collect 1.5 to 2 kg of hazardous waste per capita annually, regularly ranking first or second nationally.
- Reusable diapers pilot: A washable diaper programme at the Vrhnika kindergarten eliminated an estimated 25,000 disposable diapers per year, saving approximately €5,300 annually.
Why the system works:
JKPV manages more than 230 ecological drop-off sites throughout the three municipalities, along with a dedicated collection center for bulky and construction waste, which completed a long-planned renovation and expansion in 2025.
The company’s DEPO Reuse Center partners with local organizations to sell refurbished and upcycled goods, including clothes hangers made from skis and bags made from seatbelts, alongside a secondhand shop for donated books, porcelain, bicycles, and clothing.
Public education efforts reach residents across generations, with annual lectures for five age groups, from kindergarteners through university students, drawing approximately 1,500 participants each year. Since 2006, JKPV has also published an annual newsletter, Ogrizek (“Apple Core”), to keep residents informed, supplemented by coverage in local media and the publication Naš časopis.
This autumn, JKPV will roll out a new door-to-door collection system for mixed packaging, replacing the current drop-off model, alongside a new digital platform developed in partnership with the municipalities to improve the resident experience.
Despite these excellent results, a remaining challenge is the improper disposal of waste next to ecological islands, caused by insufficient container capacity or the dumping of unsuitable waste. In response, the company and the municipalities have implemented more frequent cleaning schedules and stepped up oversight via the Inter-municipal Inspectorate at the most critical locations. These efforts are already showing a decline in the number of violators.
Recommendations for the next level
The auditor outlined several recommendations for the municipalities to reach the next certification level, including:
- Take ownership of the zero waste plan’s implementation by identifying where waste generation can be reduced or prevented within municipal buildings and districts.
- Develop a concrete action plan that builds upon the existing Zero Waste Strategy, with clear responsibilities and regular progress reviews .
- Promote the use of reusable products at events, for example, by providing dishwashing services.
- Shifting greater focus toward waste prevention rather than sorting alone.
- Follow international best practices: Since these municipalities have already shared their experiences with others internationally, it is time for them to start tracking waste prevention practices from other countries and provide study tours for their staff.
- Upgrade green public procurement analyses and go beyond the minimum levels required by national legislation.
Vrhnika, Log-Dragomer, and Borovnica thus remain part of the pioneer group in the Slovenian Zero Waste movement, and as the latest audit shows, their commitment is only growing stronger over the years.
About the Zero Waste Municipality Certification
The Zero Waste Cities Certification is run by the Mission Zero Academy (MiZA), the capacity-building hub for local decision-makers, SMEs, and other organisations advancing zero waste strategies and circular economy implementation. The programme evaluates municipal waste management systems on a five-star scale, recognising sustained progress in waste reduction, citizen engagement, and resource efficiency. Learn more at missionzeroacademy.eu.
Media Contact: Giulia Lodi – Zero Waste Europe – news@zerowasteeurope.eu
