Laying the Foundations for Zero-Waste Islands

Ibiza and Formentera face critical environmental, regulatory, and infrastructural challenges, highlighting the urgent need to transition to a circular economy and implement resource-efficient waste reduction practices. The islands are approaching the capacity limit of their landfill by 2030, which would force waste export to Mallorca for incineration, increasing environmental and economic costs. Despite progressive laws like the Ley Balear de Residuos and the Ley Estatal de Residuos, effective implementation and multi-sector collaboration remain significant challenges.

This project aims to position Ibiza and Formentera among the first ten Zero-Waste-certified Mediterranean islands by 2030. It is built around two main pillars:

Capacity building and knowledge exchange: stakeholders will participate in a study visit to a certified zero-waste island (e.g., Krk, Croatia) to learn from successful models. In partnership with Zero Waste Europe’s Mission Zero Academy, the initiative will adapt best practices (like the deposit return system) to the specific context of the islands, addressing challenges such as limited landfill space and seasonal waste surges from tourism.

Development of strategic recommendations: a toolkit titled “Key Recommendations and Actions Towards Zero-Waste Islands 2030” will be created through participatory workshops with local institutions and alliance members. It will propose practical steps aligned with EU and national waste directives to inform a future roadmap and embed waste reduction into local planning.

By combining local engagement with international expertise, the initiative seeks to drive systemic, long-term waste management reform in Ibiza and Formentera.