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"Circulär Vienna": Strategy for Circular Economy Established

Die Strategie soll laut Czernohorszky das Leben in Wien langfristig umweltschonender gestalten.
Die Strategie soll laut Czernohorszky das Leben in Wien langfristig umweltschonender gestalten. ©APA/EVA MANHART
The city of Vienna has introduced a comprehensive strategy to promote the circular economy, based on 33 measures aimed at advancing resource-efficient practices in areas such as procurement, food production, and construction.

At Vienna's City Hall, there is a strong commitment to combating waste and promoting resource conservation at all levels. The focus is on recycling. The specific areas where efforts will be concentrated have now been outlined in a dedicated strategy. "Circular Vienna - A Well-Rounded Initiative" is the title of the concept that was presented on Monday.

Well-Rounded Initiative: Vienna Developed Strategy for Circular Economy

The plan is to implement a total of 33 "levers." The city aims to lead by example in its role as a procurer and to promote the development of circular products and resource-efficient services through increased collaboration with businesses, it was stated.

Furthermore, learning and training programs are to be designed for the general population as well as for specific professional groups. Additionally, practical frameworks for purchasing, repair, return, collection, and reuse in the immediate living and working environment are to be established.

Measures in Areas Such as Procurement, Education, Catering

In the area of food, the focus should be on locally and organically produced products, some of which are also produced directly in the city. They should be increasingly used in gastronomy and in communal catering - for example, in schools and kindergartens or in hospitals and care facilities.

According to the city, a central issue is also the construction sector. With new procedures or guidelines, they aim to ensure a more efficient use of resources. In the area of urban development, a circular approach to soil excavation and the associated logistics are the focus, it was stated.

"A good life in our city has a lot to do with appreciation - appreciation for each other, but also for the many things in our everyday lives that should not become disposable products lightly," emphasized Environmental and Climate City Councilor Jürgen Czernohorszky (SPÖ) in a statement: "With this strategy, we are presenting a comprehensive overall strategy for the first time, which should help us to make our lives and economy more environmentally friendly and resilient in the long term."

Greens miss "real commitment"

For the Greens, the strategy does not deliver what it promises. It is fundamentally good that there is finally such a strategy, noted party leader Peter Kraus in a release. "Without real commitment, new measurable goals, and concrete timelines, the strategy remains a mere declaration of intent," he criticized. As a result, it is not comprehensible in which sub-areas progress is being made or where there is a need for improvement. Additionally, the Greens criticized that the concept largely avoids the issue of traffic.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.

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