International Day of Zero Waste
A UN-designated day raising awareness of the importance of reducing waste and adopting more sustainable patterns of consumption and production.
Date30 March
TopicEnvironment & Sustainability
Established2022
Ways to observe this day
- Cut single-use plastic from your day
- Set aside time to sort recyclable waste at home
- Reuse or recycle an item instead of throwing it away
- Share a practical waste-reduction tip with your family or colleagues
On December 14, 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring March 30 the International Day of Zero Waste, on an initiative by Türkiye backed by more than a hundred member states, with the first official observance on March 30, 2023. The day responds to the worsening global waste crisis and its growing impact on the environment, climate, and human health.
The day promotes the "zero waste" concept, which rethinks how goods are produced, consumed, and disposed of — reducing waste at the source and prioritizing reuse and recycling over landfilling and incineration. The UN calls on governments, the private sector, and individuals to help achieve this goal as a core part of sustainable development and the fight against climate change and plastic pollution in the oceans. UN environment and human settlements programs, working with governments and civil society, mark the occasion with awareness campaigns, waste-reduction initiatives in schools and neighborhoods, and discussions on the circular economy.
