Three Chinese Cities Selected for UN's “20 Zero-Waste Cities” List, Leading the World
On January 5, 2026, the United Nations Secretary-General's Advisory Board on the Zero Waste Economy officially announced the global list of “20 Cities Moving Toward Zero Waste.” China's Suzhou, Sanya, and Hangzhou were successfully selected, making China the country with the most cities on the list.
The Global “20 Cities Moving Towards Zero Waste” List The UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Zero Waste was established pursuant to UN General Assembly Resolution 77/161, with its core function being the promotion of best practices in zero-waste development. Selection criteria focused on achievements in waste reduction, innovative resource circulation models, carbon emission reduction outcomes, and community participation in governance, emphasizing the replicability of case studies. In July 2025, responding to the UN Secretary-General's call for “Transformative Action on Waste,” the Advisory Board launched a global case study call to identify cities demonstrating zero-waste leadership, foster international knowledge exchange, and accelerate the global transition to sustainable waste management. In September 2025, the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Zero Waste launched the global “20 Cities Towards Zero Waste” selection. This initiative identifies pioneering cities worldwide that have set exemplary standards in waste reduction, resource circulation, and sustainable management, with replicable success stories offering practical solutions for the world. Per UN arrangements, the selected zero-waste case studies from three cities will be globally unveiled on March 30, 2026—International Zero Waste Day—and prominently featured at commemorative events in New York, Nairobi, and other locations.
Suzhou’s comprehensive zero-waste case study will be published and showcased on the UN-Habitat website, offering globally applicable insights for cities worldwide.
Zero Waste City Case Study: >> Suzhou City: In recent years, Suzhou has continuously advanced its “Zero Waste City” initiative, achieving 100% coverage of its household waste collection, transportation, and disposal system across 8,600 square kilometers of urban and rural areas. This has successfully addressed the significant challenge of processing 9.2067 million tons of household waste annually. Through waste incineration, the city generated 3.03 billion kWh of electricity in 2024, equivalent to saving 1 million tons of standard coal and meeting the annual electricity needs of 1.1 million households. This process achieved a 56% reduction in total carbon emissions and a 67% decrease in carbon emission intensity across the entire lifecycle. Suzhou Industrial Park's Circular Economy Industrial Park pioneered an integrated approach by combining seven facilities—including wastewater treatment plants, sludge disposal plants, food waste treatment plants, and thermal power plants—into a symbiotic “waste-resource-energy” cycle. By the end of 2024, the park had cumulatively fed 38.46 million cubic meters of biogas into the grid, reduced carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 800,000 tons, generated 5.9 billion kWh of electricity, and reused 20.07 million tons of recycled water, achieving systematic optimization of regional material metabolism. The zero-waste philosophy has become ingrained in citizens' daily lives and emotional memories. Suzhou leverages the “Suzhou Care” app to provide convenient waste sorting guidance and scheduled recycling services, mobilizing 45,000 volunteers to engage deeply with communities. Additionally, it innovatively integrates environmental initiatives with local culture and public services. For instance, the “Milk Carton for Fresh Milk” campaign, partnered with the nearly 70-year-old heritage brand “Shuangxi Dairy,” cleverly boosts recycling rates for low-value recyclables through an approachable exchange mechanism. Moving forward, Suzhou will deepen its “Zero-Waste City” initiative, making green the most compelling foundation of urban development and contributing more Suzhou wisdom to global sustainable progress.
Since being selected among China's first “11+5” pilot cities for “Zero-Waste City” construction, Sanya has defined tasks, set targets, and compiled action plans based on its solid waste generation and management realities. formulating the Sanya “Zero-Waste City” Construction Implementation Plan (2021-2025). This plan outlines five major tasks—promoting green lifestyles, preventing plastic pollution, building ecological villages, protecting blue oceans, and creating “zero-waste windows”—along with a corresponding list of 120 tasks and projects.
Sanya has established an integrated land-sea management model, launched themed campaigns on waste sorting and plastic ban initiatives, and promoted eco-friendly delivery packaging. In agriculture, green pest control technologies are being adopted to reduce, recycle, and repurpose agricultural solid waste. Comprehensive marine sanitation operations have commenced, building a complete collection, salvage, transportation, and treatment system to drive source reduction across multiple sectors.
For domestic waste, Sanya implements a “village collection, district transfer, city processing” model. Waste collection vehicles and frequencies are scientifically adjusted for tourism industry peak and off-peak seasons, ensuring daily clearance of urban and rural waste. The city has established 440 recycling collection points, achieving 100% coverage for rural waste collection and disposal.
Sanya has integrated end-of-pipe solid waste treatment facilities—including municipal solid waste incineration, medical waste disposal, food waste processing, municipal sludge treatment, construction waste utilization, fecal matter treatment, end-of-life vehicle dismantling, and a comprehensive recycling resource utilization center—into the Sanya Circular Economy Industrial Park. This creates a sustainable development model featuring centralized processing, resource sharing, and efficient recycling within the park. Annual power generation from municipal solid waste incineration reaches approximately 375 million kWh, meeting electricity demands for production facilities and residential use. Biogas and odorous gases produced during kitchen waste treatment, along with kitchen residues, fecal residues, dewatered sludge, and high-temperature-cooked medical waste, are fed into the incineration plant to enhance combustion and generate electricity. Energy and byproducts generated by different projects complement each other, effectively reducing the park's carbon emissions and forming a green chain for comprehensive utilization of various wastes. Sanya is advancing the construction of an integrated solid waste information supervision platform, connecting relevant data from departments including ecology and environment, housing and urban-rural development, agriculture and rural affairs, and health. Key solid waste management data—such as collected household waste, construction debris, and crop straw—is incorporated into this digital oversight service platform. For instance, the system provides real-time feedback on the collection, transfer, and disposal of household and construction waste, forming a unified citywide network for the digital traceability and management of major solid waste categories.
The seeds of a “waste-free culture” are sprouting across every corner of this city. Azure seas and green waves of environmental protection surge together, transforming eco-consciousness into green momentum for the city's low-carbon, sustainable development with each new initiative. Sanya is putting into action the mandate to “safeguard this precious legacy,” polishing the green credentials of its free trade port.
Hangzhou City As a major central city in eastern China, Hangzhou has effectively managed comprehensive solid waste treatment and resource utilization under the dual pressures of an economic output exceeding 2 trillion yuan and a permanent population surpassing 12.6 million. The city has achieved a historic leap, shifting from increasing to decreasing total domestic waste. Hangzhou maintains a general industrial solid waste utilization rate above 98%; hazardous waste landfill ratios are controlled within 3.5%; Daily per capita household waste generation has decreased from 1.06 kilograms in 2021 to 0.99 kilograms in 2024. By the end of 2020, Hangzhou became the first city nationwide to achieve zero landfill for household waste across its entire jurisdiction. Behind this impressive “waste reduction report card” lies Hangzhou's systematic innovation of deeply integrating “digital intelligence” throughout the entire chain of waste sorting and resource utilization. Three Highlights of Hangzhou's “Zero-Waste” Journey: I. Digital Empowerment, Unified Network Management. Hangzhou established a citywide digital-intelligent waste governance platform, enabling real-time oversight of 7,361 waste collection points, 1,780 collection vehicles, 9 incineration plants, and 11 food waste treatment facilities. Big data not only makes waste ‘visible’ but also enables “smarter” management, supporting scientific decision-making. 2. Model Innovation, Public Participation. “Brother Hu's Doorstep Service”: The “Internet + Recycling” model serves 559,000 households. With one-click calling, doorstep collection, and instant eco-credits, waste sorting becomes simple and rewarding. “Whale Spirit Bus”: Targeting “low-value recyclables” in restaurants, office buildings, and residential areas, it has collected 1,584 tons of resources over three years, saving approximately 9.37 million yuan in disposal costs. “Milk Carton Recycling”: Engaging over 230 schools and 200,000 students, this initiative transforms discarded milk cartons into recycled paper and aluminum. III. Cell Cultivation, Cultural Roots. Hangzhou has established over 3,200 “Zero-Waste Cells.” 314 “Zero-Waste Communities”: Eco-markets, point-based exchanges, and upcycling initiatives foster green living as a neighborhood norm. 789 “Zero-Waste Schools”: Integrating education and practice, empowering children to become practitioners and advocates of zero-waste principles, with their influence extending to thousands of households through “small hands pulling big hands.” 43 “Zero-Waste Malls”: Transforming recyclables into public art at fashion landmarks like Hubin Pedestrian Street, promoting green consumption. 12 provincial-level “Zero-Waste Enterprises” designated for key cultivation. The simultaneous inclusion of three Chinese cities in the UN Global “Zero-Waste Cities” Pioneer List signifies international recognition of China's practices and achievements in integrated solid waste management, resource recycling, and green low-carbon development. Each city has provided globally relevant “Zero-Waste City” development models, showcasing China's wisdom and actions in advancing ecological civilization and contributing to global sustainable development.
Source:https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/EDdm3Y6GyvaOfu7VbkOAKA