Over one billion tons of food produced globally is lost or wasted every year, contributing approximately 10% of total greenhouse gas emissions. In a world where millions still go hungry, this acts as a stark reminder that the challenge is largely one of equitable distribution, not necessarily supply. With cities responsible for around 70% of the global greenhouse  gas emissions, they are not only at the heart of the problem, but also the key to solutions.

As cities mark Zero Waste Day on 30 March, the urgency of local action has never been clearer. Four real-world examples showcase how ICLEI Circular Food Systems Handbook provides a policy toolbox that enables local governments to tackle food waste across the value chain and move toward a more circular, zero waste future.

Turning food surplus into meals through local regulations

Picking up fresh vegetables from a supermarket or grabbing a warm meal from a café is an everyday convenience  that comes at a hidden cost: Perfectly edible food ending up in the bin at the end of the day. What if that surplus could instead be recovered and recirculated within the community? 

This is precisely what the City of Milan’s Local Food Waste Hubs in Italy have been doing since 2015, as the City works toward its target of halving food waste by 2030. By leveraging regulatory and planning instruments, from local ordinances to tax incentives and land-use policies,the city has created an enabling environment for food redistribution. A clear legal framework, reduced waste fees and dedicated spaces for local charities to store and distribute surplus food have turned policy into practice. As a result, two million meals were recovered across eight Food Waste Hubs in 2025 alone. 

When the cost of waste makes change possible

Prices too shape behavior, and local governments can use economic instruments to do exactly that. Charges, public procurement and investment programs can steer producers, consumers and waste managers away from food loss and waste, and redirect resources toward circular solutions. 

The Metropolitan Government of Seoul, Republic of Korea, understood this as early as 1995, when it initiated its food waste pay-as-you-throw system. It is based on a simple principle, as waste generators are charged for what they discard, while recycling and recovery systems are made available as practical alternatives to landfill and incineration. The system is designed for fairness and flexibility, with households charged by weight where possible, and others paying per bag or container. Support measures, such as free bags for low-income residents, ensure inclusivity. The outcome? A food waste reduction rate of up to 30%.

Building a network that feeds the city

Across the value chain, various actors shape how food is produced, distributed and discarded. Addressing food waste in a systemic manner requires local governments to actively collaborate with these key players such as food cooperatives, food service providers and waste pickers. 

The Municipality of São Paulo, Brazil, has been strengthening this convening role since 2017. What began as a pilot, the Programme on Food Waste and Loss Combat has bridged the logistics of public food supply, in particular that related to municipal and street markets, with the Municipal Food Bank. 

This effort has given a second life to edible food unfit for sale. Pre-consumer surplus that would otherwise go to waste is in fact redirected and, when reuse is not possible, recovered through composting. In a megalopolis of over 12 million people, this model has helped address both food security and waste management challenges.

Knowledge that makes food waste personal

Yet sustainable food systems are not built by policy alone – they require long-term shifts in how people understand, value and consume food. This is where education and awareness play a critical role. Through campaigns, research initiatives and changes to school curricula, local governments can empower communities to make informed  choices. When people understand the scale and consequences of food waste, the case for change becomes undeniable. 

This is what drove the City of Melbourne, Australia, to develop the “We Need to Talk About Food” guide in partnership with a local nonprofit. Rather than listing dry facts and figures, the pamphlet translates the complexities of food system unsustainability into accessible insights and practical actions. From conducting a personal food audit to adopting sustainable consumption habits, it equips residents and businesses alike with the knowledge to be part of the solution.

Local action, global stakes

At this moment, the stakes could not be higher: From the local to the global, circular food systems are a direct pathway to the sustainable cities and production and consumption patterns envisioned by Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 12. Through legal enablers for food redistribution, variable-rate waste fees and community engagement via partnerships and knowledge, Milan, Seoul, São Paulo and Melbourne show us that the circular transition is not just an aspiration, but a concrete opportunity for local governments to act on.

Bringing it together

This year’s Zero Waste Forum, convened by the Zero Waste Foundation in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 5 to 7 June, reminds us precisely of this potential. On the road to COP31, the Forum will dedicate a full day to food systems and methane action as a climate delivery lever. With Secretary General Gino Van Begin serving on the Zero Waste Foundation’s Board, ICLEI will be present to convene city practitioners and guide local governments along their zero-waste journeys, furthering its support to the COP30 Food Waste Breakthrough. 
Join the global conversation at the 2026 Zero Waste Forum by 24 May and find further inspiration on how cities are closing the loop on food systems through ICLEI’s Circular Food Systems Handbook and beyond it.