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The small Slovakian city of Partizánske has had remarkable success with its innovative bio-waste management programme, which has delivered both environmental benefits and cost savings for the municipality, according to a new report.
How it works: The city started promoting home composting of biodegradable kitchen and garden waste in 2014. People who live in standalone houses qualify for free composting bins if they attend a public information session on good composting practices. For those residing in apartments, the city recently introduced a door-to-door bio-waste collection system.
The results: As of mid-2024, 95% of single-family homes self-compost, and the amount of mixed waste they produce has fallen 36% in just eight years, according to the report by Zero Waste Europe, a non-profit group.
There’s also been a notable decline in bio-waste from apartments since the collection programme was launched two years ago, the organisation says.
Furthermore, the financial savings generated by the reduction in waste, and from the optimised collection system, have more than offset the total costs incurred by the city, including the costs of providing composting bins as well as waste collection and landfill services.
Lessons for others: Partizánske’s unique approach, which relies on separate strategies for different types of homes, “provides an inspiring case of how municipalities can bring waste management back into the hands of public ownership to deliver better results, for the community and local environment,” Zero Waste Europe says.
“The story of Partizánske also showcases the benefits of implementing an extra focus on community education and engagement, investing significantly in this before and during the implementation of a new
collection system.”
Other cities could also learn from how the city collaborated with local groups and waste experts, the organisation adds.
