"Waste Minimization in Large Events" is the full title of the project started in March 2023, in which the Metropolitan City of Bologna is a partner (together with other organizations from Spain, Lithuania, Poland, Greece and Belgium), which for the next 4 years will delve into the theme of sustainability, working to improve policies on waste minimization during large events.

The project is in line with the Metropolitan Strategic Plan 2.0 (PSM 2.0) and the Agenda for Sustainable Development, which are able to guide the actions of the Metropolitan City, Municipalities and Unions of Municipalities, identifying medium and long-term strategic objectives.

The two days are linked to the European Week for Waste Reduction, celebrated from 18 to 26 November, to promote awareness-raising actions on sustainability and proper waste management.

The meeting, reserved for partners and stakeholders, opened at Palazzo Malvezzi with a presentation of the project and its results. This was followed by a training seminar in which experts spoke in depth about the Italian context on the issues of waste minimization related to large events, with particularly successful examples presented by the Ministry for the Environment and Security, Fondazione Ecosistemi, Santarcangelo dei Teatri, IT.A.CÀ Bologna and Ecoevents.

In the afternoon, the partners moved to Imola for a study visit at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Racetrack where the “Un s'bóta veja gnét” (Nothing is thrown away) case for the recovery of food surpluses, promoted by the Municipality of Imola, the Racetrack and Last Minute Market, was presented. An overview of the various actions put in place for sustainability was also presented.

On the second day, the partners moved to DumBO (Multifunctional Urban District of Bologna), where a visit was made to the facilities and infrastructure with a presentation of the initiatives undertaken for the organization of sustainable events and circular start-ups. This is a temporary urban regeneration space. Almost 40,000 square meters of the former Ravone freight yard are now available to the city for events. A place where associations, businesses and citizens work together. A workshop was also held here to share best practices on issues related to sport (Davis Cup in Malaga, Krakow Marathon and waste prevention at the King Baldwin Stadium in Brussels), religious events (Holy Week in Malaga, Franciscan Festival in Bologna and the Pope's visit to Lisbon for World Youth Day) and tourism-related events (Klaipeda Youth Capital 2021).

For further information:  www.cittametropolitana.bo.it/progetti_europei/minev_eng