Guimarães hosted the visit of the “Zero Waste Cities in Ukraine” project

From May 7 to 9, Guimarães hosted the international technical visit of the “Zero Waste Cities in Ukraine” project, funded by the European Union’s LIFE programme and coordinated in Portugal by the Landscape Laboratory (Laboratório da Paisagem).

This was the first in-person meeting of the consortium, which brings together representatives from Ukrainian municipalities, European entities, and environmental experts.

The visit gathered representatives from the Ukrainian municipalities of Lutsk, Kherson, Pokrovsk and Derhachi, as well as researchers, civil society organisations, and technical experts from partner European cities such as Guimarães, Oeiras, and Carmignano (Italy). The objective was to promote the exchange of good practices in waste management, circular economy, and sustainable urban planning, even in highly challenging contexts like those currently faced in Ukraine.

Over three days, participants learned about local initiatives related to the ecological transition, such as the PAYT system and the biowaste collection by Vitrus Ambiente, the work of the Landscape Lab, the “Urgezes Circular” project, and examples of flexible mobility and urban space regeneration.

The agenda also included collaborative work sessions, such as the presentation of assessment reports from the Ukrainian municipalities, joint planning sessions, and technical visits to schools, public infrastructure, and local businesses certified as “Zero Waste”.

This meeting reinforced Guimarães’ role as a leading city in environmental innovation and international cooperation, at a time when it is preparing to take on the title of European Green Capital 2026. The project, which began in May 2024, has a four-year duration and aims to support the transformation of urban waste management systems in the four participating Ukrainian cities.