UrbanWINS launches Online Agoras: a virtual space for debates dedicated to waste management

de | mart. 28, 2017 | News

UrbanWINS, a project funded by the European Union designed to develop and test methods for developing and implementing eco-innovative strategic waste prevention plans, launched UrbanWINS Agora, a participatory virtual community for sharing knowledge and discussions on waste, resources and innovation. UrbanWINS now facilitates the involvement of citizens and other stakeholders in the project, while encouraging the generation of ideas by participants, the creation of solutions and the transition to more sustainable consumption and production models. Urban Wins Agora can be accessed on the project website: https://www.urbanwins.eu/online-agora/

In addition to citizens, UrbanWINS agor discussions will be attended by public authorities, non-governmental organizations, waste management solutions providers, research institutes and educational centers. The online platform will facilitate the exchange of ideas internationally and will be connected with the workshops with physical participation in the project, as well as with local actions in the eight pilot cities in Europe - Cremona, Turin, Albano Laziale and Pomezia - cities in the area. Metropolitan of Rome (Italy), Bucharest (Romania), Leiria (Portugal), Manresa and Sabadell (Spain).

The recommendations and solutions that will be developed together with the citizens can be replicated in other cities as well. One of the final results of the project will be a set of tools to underpin a participatory decision-making process, based on scientific research and the development of a waste prevention and management plan; this set can be used by any public authority in Europe.

UrbanWINS website - www.urbanwins.eu - which hosts the agoras, has been operating for three months and provides complete information about the objectives and approach of the project. Each of the pilot cities has its own page that contains detailed information on its own waste management and prevention strategies. The project also developed an information tool (“Sector Watch”) for those responsible for public procurement in the field of waste, which monitors and presents the latest news on this topic and can be accessed at  http://www.urbanwins.eu/resources/.

 

About the project

UrbanWINS is a three-year project launched in June 2016 and funded by Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program. It examines how cities consume resources and products and eliminates waste to develop and test solutions and eco-innovative plans to improve waste management and prevention. The participatory approach is an added value of the UrbanWINS project, as it allows the consideration of all relevant actors for the production and management of waste at urban level.