Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
The Problem In 2021, biowaste made up about 60% of the mixed residual waste of Mechelen households.
The Move They Made Since 2020, the City of Mechelen has offered "Climate Actions" grants of up to €5,000 for local climate projects, including community gardens and neighbourhood composting. The city also subsidises home compost bins and works with Vlaco's network of volunteer master composters.
The Proof Sixteen community garden initiatives received Climate Action funding, eleven of them including the composting of household biowaste. Mechelen now shares its approach with other European cities through the Interreg Europe CITISYSTEM project, coordinated locally by Loes Vandecasteele.
Your Move Grants of up to €5,000, and 11 of the 16 funded initiatives included composting. A small budget handed to local owners can move a measurable share of waste out of the bin.
Sources
