The proposed action will include two distinct initatives to reduce the amount of waste produced in the city's open air food markets. In the Porta Palazzo marktet the City is partnering with Novamont S.p.A. to experiment an innovative system for the collection of organic waste for composting, making it easier for individual vendors to separate food stuffs from other waste products and allow for simplified collection. The initiative will target over 200 individual fruit and vegetable vendors in Europe's largest open air food market. In addition, the City will mobilize volunteers to assist with the collection and distribution free of charge of unsold foods to those in need throughout each day.

In the Madama Cristina and Crocetta markets, the City is partnering with Oikos Srl to implement a system of foldable, washable and reusable plastic fruit and vegetable containers to replace the single-use wooden and cardboard boxes that currently account for the majority of the waste produced in open-air markets (in addition to organic waste).

Both initiatives will include a before and after analysis of the amount of waste produced, separated and collected for composting and reuse. A series of public awareness campaigns in each of the markets will help educate the general public on the specific initiatives and the benefits of waste reduction and reuse.