ILOILO CITY β Iloilo City has been named a global "zero waste" champion by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat. The city is one of only two in the Philippines to receive the recognition, alongside the City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
The recognition is part of the "International Day of Zero Waste" observance, which highlights cities and organizations making significant strides in waste management. The UN agencies cited the cities' efforts to implement comprehensive waste reduction and recycling programs.
According to UNEP, the initiative aims to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns and advance the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The recognition serves to showcase scalable models for other cities worldwide.
Iloilo City's programs include strict enforcement of segregation at source, a city-wide materials recovery facility system, and community-based composting initiatives. These efforts have reportedly contributed to a significant reduction in waste sent to landfills.
