Ukrainian partners of the “Zero Waste Cities in Ukraine” project meet in Guimarães

On May 8 and 9, 2025, Guimarães hosts the visit of Ukrainian and European partners involved in the “Zero Waste Cities in Ukraine” project, marking the first in-person meeting promoted by the consortium, coordinated by the Landscape Laboratory (Laboratório da Paisagem) and funded by the EU LIFE Programme.

This event is part of an international technical visit aimed at promoting the exchange of knowledge and experiences in the field of sustainable waste management and the circular economy. Representatives from the four Ukrainian municipalities involved — Lutsk, Kherson, Pokrovsk, and Derhachi — will be present, along with civil society organisations and international environmental experts.

Over the course of two days, the Landscape Laboratory is leading working sessions, site visits to local projects, and strategic discussions with the partners, with a special focus on the presentation of the needs assessment reports from the Ukrainian municipalities and the definition of next steps in European cooperation.

This initiative reinforces Guimarães’ role as a leading city in the ecological transition and a symbol of resilience and European solidarity, even in times of conflict.

Zero Waste Cities in Ukraine
Launched on May 1, 2024, the project will run for four years and brings together Ukrainian and European municipalities, research institutions, and civil society organisations with the goal of supporting the transition of participating Ukrainian cities to sustainable municipal waste management systems and circular economy models. The main focus is on four Ukrainian cities: Lutsk, Kherson, Pokrovsk (Donetsk region), and Derhachi (Kharkiv region).

On the ground, Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine works directly with local authorities and NGOs such as Zero Waste Lutsk, Ecological News Kherson, Zero Waste Mariupol, and Zero Waste Kharkiv. These organisations play a key role in raising public awareness, conducting audits, and designing strategies tailored to local needs.

European partners are significantly strengthening the Ukrainian team and participating municipalities with their expertise in waste management. The municipalities of Guimarães and Oeiras (Portugal), and Carmignano (Italy), share practical solutions for reforming waste systems as well as effective models for infrastructure and environmental education.

The project also benefits from the collaboration of research institutions such as the Landscape Laboratory (Portugal) and the Hamburg Institute for Innovation, Climate Protection and Circular Economy (Germany), and includes expert contributions from Zero Waste Europe and Zero Waste Italy.