March 30 is the International Day of Zero Waste. The United Nations General Assembly, at its 77th session, adopted a resolution declaring March 30 as the International Day of Zero Waste On December 14, 2022.
In 2026, the theme of the day focuses on food - what we eat, what we waste, and how we can move toward a circular economy.
“The fight for a zero-waste world starts from your plate,” the United Nations notes on the occasion.
Every year, around 1 billion tons of food are wasted, accounting for nearly one-fifth of all food produced globally. Households generate 60% of food waste, the food service sector accounts for 28%, and retail trade for 12%. If urgent action is not taken, by 2050, the generation of municipal solid waste is projected to increase to 3.8 billion tons annually.
Food waste is responsible for 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is almost five times higher than emissions from the aviation sector.
According to the United Nations, this is due to the inefficiency of food systems - production, distribution, and consumption. As a solution, it is proposed to transform these systems by transitioning to a more sustainable, circular approach based on efficiency, resilience, and environmental sustainability.
The United Nations notes that governments can integrate food waste reduction measures into climate and biodiversity strategies. The private sector can begin measuring losses and take steps to reduce them. Consumers, in turn, can better plan their food consumption, make informed purchases, store food properly, and fully utilize purchased products.
It should be noted that in Armenia, on average 1,887 tons of municipal solid waste are generated daily, or about 700,000 tons annually. Around 46% of the waste consists of kitchen (food) waste.
March 30, 2026 at 16:55