Achieved improved waste management

The Urban Center of Good Initiatives (CUIB), a social enterprise launched by the NGO Mai Bine in 2013, is designed to drive social economies and support sustainable development in Iasi. The enterprise operates a bistro that promotes social consumption by supporting local producers, adhering to slow food principles through the use of local and seasonal ingredients, minimizing food waste, and encouraging sustainable transportation, among other eco-friendly activities (2 & 4).
In 2020, CUIB and Mai Bine joined the FoodE program, a European research and social project focused on local agri-food systems. Funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020), the initiative empowered grassroots organizations through co-creation and collaboration among diverse stakeholders (5).
The FoodE project strengthened CUIB’s mission to provide low-carbon-impact food, promote ecological, ethical, and artisanal products, offer solidarity services such as free meals for the most vulnerable, engage in low-waste operations, provide education on mental and human ecology, and foster community through social and cultural events (1, p. 98). To further these goals, CUIB organized co-design workshops with 100 community members, focusing on achieving zero food miles, zero waste, and eliminating food waste (1, p. 99).
The program also led to improvements at the bistro, including the creation of a courtyard garden, a small terrace garden, along with a community garden (1, p. 100). These gardens supplied food to the bistro, and bio-waste was composted to fertilize the plots (1, p. 102). CUIB also hosted 17 outreach events as part of the initiative, including ecological workshops and the creation of a vegetable garden at a local kindergarten (3, p. 114 & 6).
Beyond its environmental work, CUIB provides free meals for 100 beneficiaries and organizes food donations for 400 vulnerable children and individuals (1, p. 103).

The Fairy Garden, also known as the WOW Recreational Park, is a distinctive green space located near Diósgyőr Castle in Miskolc, Hungary. Since its opening in April 2020, the park has quickly gained popularity, earning third place in the 2020 Tourism Attraction of the Year award in the professional category. Once a neglected and polluted site with historical significance, the area was transformed by a local entrepreneur. After removing over sixty containers of waste, including hazardous materials, a park was created that harmonizes with the natural environment, preserving existing willow trees and integrating water features fed by local streams. When creating the park, the creators respected the plants of the area to the maximum, not a single tree was cut down, and the fruit trees were also kept.
The park boasts various decorative elements, including a carousel, a garden cinema, and other amenities. However, in September 2021, it was closed indefinitely for renovations. Gábor Vaszil, the lessee who had rented the land from the Miskolc municipality, intended to purchase the property for further development. Despite initial support from the local government, the transaction was halted due to concerns raised by the regional Water Management and Protection Authority regarding the protection of Miskolc's drinking water resources. Their ongoing investigation has delayed any further decisions about the sale or the future of the park. In the meantime, the garden remains open to the public for leisurely walks, similar to other municipal parks in Miskolc.
(Ref.1-4)

The Santa Gilla lagoon, a crucial wetland in the Cagliari metropolitan area of Sardinia, has been the focus of several interventions aimed at restoring and preserving its natural and socio-economic functions. The overarching goal of these projects is to rehabilitate the lagoon's ecosystems, improve public accessibility, and promote sustainable economic activities such as eco-tourism and fishing. One significant intervention is the restoration of pedestrian and cycling paths around the lagoon, managed by CACIP (Consorzio Industriale Provinciale di Cagliari) in collaboration with the Metropolitan City of Cagliari. With over two million euros in funding, this project aimed to recover the original profiles of the lagoon's embankments, while removing waste from the area and enhancing the paths for non-motorized mobility (2). Another crucial development was the legal action taken by the Corpo Forestale (Forestry Corps) in 2020 to address illegal constructions and pollution along the lagoon's eastern shores. This action included the sequestration of areas used for illegal fishing activities, where hazardous materials and waste were improperly disposed of, leading to environmental degradation​ (1). Furthermore, environmental groups have made continuous efforts to address illegal dumping near the lagoon, particularly along the SS 195 highway. These groups have actively sought the intervention of local authorities to initiate cleanup operations and enforce regulations against illegal waste disposal​ (4). The projects were implemented primarily to address the significant environmental hazards facing the Santa Gilla lagoon, including pollution from illegal dumping, habitat degradation due to unauthorized constructions, and the overall loss of biodiversity. These activities also aimed to mitigate the socio-economic risks posed by the deteriorating environmental conditions, such as the decline in tourism and sustainable fishing practices (1,2,4).

The environmental and public space recovery project around the Bazurto Market in Cartagena is a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing the severe environmental degradation and chaotic urban conditions in this vital area of the city. The Bazurto Market, one of Cartagena's most important economic hubs, had experienced increasing levels of disorganization, pollution, and public health risks due to the encroachment of informal vendors and improper waste management (ref 1,2,5). The primary goals of this project are to restore the ecological health of the Caño de Bazurto and the Ciénaga de las Quintas, enhance the quality of public spaces around the market, and improve the overall urban environment (ref 1). Project activities included removal of waste from the surrounding water bodies, installation of protective barriers along the Ciénaga de las Quintas, and the planting of trees to revitalize green spaces (ref 3,4). Emphasis was placed on planting of a variety of tree species, such as Guayacán Amarillo, Ceiba, and fruit trees like níspero and mango. These efforts were concentrated in areas around the Bazurto Market, where green spaces had been neglected or overtaken by informal commercial activities. The project also included the restructuring of vendor locations and public spaces to reduce congestion and improve the flow of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic (ref 5). Educational campaigns were conducted to encourage better waste disposal practices and enhance community involvement (ref 1).

The Prinzessinnengarten Kollektiv Berlin is a community garden in the New St Jacobi Cemetery in Berlin-Neukölln that invites people to join in gardening and experience nature. As part of open gardening days, people can participate in the design of the garden areas and gain experience in the local, ecological cultivation of useful plants. The main aim of their work is to provide opportunities for education and participation. Activities are open to everyone and range from sowing, planting and harvesting to seed production, processing and preserving vegetables, keeping bees to questions of community-based urban habitat design.The community also has its own farm shop where seeds, food and processed products are sold. (Ref. 1; Ref. 4) Numerous projects for recycling and upcycling, innovative cultivation methods, organic beekeeping, composting methods and post-fossil mobility use the Prinzessinnengarten as a platform for sustainable urban living. Artists also work in the garden with participatory methods on the question of how cities and their coexistence can be designed in a sustainable and resource-saving way. Outside the Prinzessinnengarten, offshoot gardens are set up and collaborations are developed to build nationwide and European networks. Through lectures, workshops, study visits and participatory research in the garden, we endeavour to include and further develop the topics associated with the Prinzessinnengarten in discussions and education. (Ref. 7)

The project is located on a cemetery, which has been partially closed since 2016. This means that burials are no longer carried out on the site and the existing rights of use of the 500 or so remaining graves will no longer be extended after expiry. The church association lends the land to the project in exchange for maintenance work on the surrounding grounds. (Ref. 6)

Rapid urbanization and a population density of 6,247 people per km² have placed significant stress on Nairobi's natural resources (Ref 1). The 40-km long Nairobi River Basin, originating from the Ondiri Swamp, serves as a vital water source for the city (Ref 1, 2). However, it has suffered severe pollution from untreated sewage, solid waste, industrial contaminants, plastics, and agricultural runoff (Ref 1, 3). This degradation has had a serious impact on the ecosystem, local residents, and biodiversity (Ref 3).

To address these issues, the Nairobi River Basin Programme (NRBP), sponsored by UNEP, was launched in 1999 (Ref 4). Since then, government and non-state actors have worked together on solid waste management, riparian restoration, and wastewater control (Ref 1). The program was implemented in two phases: Phase I (2003–2006) and Phase II (2006–2009), involving stakeholders from the government, private sector, and civil society (Ref 1, 4, 5). Despite these efforts, a study from 2017 found significant tree removal along the river, and between 1988 and 2014, encroachment into the 30-meter riparian buffer zone dramatically increased, particularly between 2010 and 2014, further degrading the river’s health (Ref 1).

The increasing volume of solid waste, driven by Nairobi's growing population, has become one of the city's major challenges (Ref 1, 2). To address this issue and promote better environmental practices, authorities plan to convert all reclaimed illegal dumpsites into recreational and green spaces. The transformation of the former Kangemi Cemetery, abandoned for over 20 years and used as an illegal dumpsite, was the first initiative in this effort.
Led by Nairobi's Governor, H.E. Mike Sonko, and supported by the City County, the project was completed in 2018 and serves as a key example of these transformative measures (Ref 1, 2, 3). Previously, Kangemi Cemetery contained over 500 loads of illegal waste, but following a successful clean-up, it has been rehabilitated into a children's playground with recreational area, now named Kangemi Cemetery Memorial Park (Ref 3).

The John Michuki Memorial Park was transformed from a vast dumpsite in 2008 and established in honor of John Michuki, the Environment Minister during the Kibaki administration, in 2012. Michuki garnered admiration and accolades for his enthusiasm and determination to clean and preserve the environment (Ref 1, 2). Situated along the Nairobi River, the park serves as a historically rich recreational facility (Ref 3).
However, several issues arose after the park was transferred to the county administration in 2013 (Ref 2). A section of the Nairobi River flowing through the park experienced severe environmental degradation due to illegal discharges and poor waste management, negatively impacting the riparian ecosystem and biodiversity (Ref 4). Additionally, the park became a refuge for drug users, street children, and thieves, with stray dogs posing safety threats in the area (Ref 1, 2).
As the first project within the Cleaning Up Kenya Campaign, the restoration of Michuki Memorial Park was launched in 2020 by the government (Ref 5). The park is now managed by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) following a directive from the national government (ibid.). With funds from the treasury, a perimeter fence was erected, a 2.4 km walkway was constructed, and 4,200 seedlings and 6,357 indigenous trees were planted, along with the establishment of a nursery (Ref 1, 6). A total of 20,000 tons of solid waste were removed (Ref 6). Additionally, a community forest association was formed to ensure community engagement (Ref 2).

In 2001, the local municipality of La Paz, in collaboration with the International Union of Architects (UIA), launched a design contest to create a central park within a protected natural area (3). The park's aim was to develop urban infrastructure while connecting nature with the city (3). The winning architectural design envisioned an infrastructure that would harmonize with the existing natural surroundings and minimize interference with the environment (4).
The park's implementation included pedestrian and bike pathways, numerous panoramic viewpoints, facilities for exercise and cultural events, buildings dedicated to science, historically significant monuments, playgrounds, and the rehabilitation and creation of multiple green spaces (1 & 4 to 6).
While most of the project was completed by 2009, the area's exposure to recurrent landslides, droughts, and illegal waste disposal, combined with ongoing degradation, has necessitated afforestation efforts and maintenance actions from the municipality to ensure the protection of the natural area and enhance its benefits (7 & 8). Recently, the park has been part of a national citizen monitoring program for species, which has improved the categorization of wildlife in the area (11 & 12). Additionally, 2,000 trees were planted in the park in 2023 as part of a reforestation campaign, and cleaning and watering maintenance work has been carried out to support their growth (7 & 13). This initiative is part of a larger project to revitalize the park (10 & 13).
Overall, the park aims to protect local wildlife and plant species while acting as a "green lung" for the city, regulating the climate, providing recreational spaces, and improving livability (14).

The Recovery of Cienaga Juan Polo project is primarily aimed at reopening the natural mouth of the Manzanillos to restore water flow between the sea and the Juan Polo coastal wetland, which has been affected by human activities leading to high salinity and water stagnation issues (ref 2). The project is led by Fundacion Serena del Mar. Environmental and social sustainability are core components of the project design, which has included extensive community consultations since 2013. These consultations have resulted in agreements covering employment opportunities, education, and infrastructure development (ref 2). Key implementation activities include the reforestation of mangroves and targeted interventions to address ecological degradation, such as increased salinity, water stagnation, and biodiversity loss (ref 2). The project also seeks to enhance the quality of life for surrounding communities by restoring traditional economic activities, particularly fishing, and integrating sustainable urban planning elements such as canals, sluices, and navigable waterways. These features are designed to support the development of a "blue corridor" for aquatic mobility within Serena del Mar (ref 2, 3). In addition, it also contributes to local capacity building through environmental education programs that engage community members, researchers, and NGOs in biodiversity monitoring and sustainable practices​ (ref 1).