International local government news 23.07.24

Here are the latest newsworthy and interesting stories from the local government sector that caught our attention. In this round-up of what’s happening right now in the world of local government, you’ll find best practices, inspiration, and more from across the sector.

Croatia: Pools and museums free for a week due to heatwave
During an incessant, 10-day-long heatwave, Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, declared that public swimming pools and municipal museums were free to access. From 19 July to 21 July, amid the local authority’s heat warning, multiple pools and museums, including its Museum of Contemporary Art and the Archaeological Museum, became climate shelters. The city were reportedly counting on some of its residents having already left for the coast or rural areas during the heat wave for the scheme to be successful.
The Mayor

Belgium: Horse-drawn carriages go electric in Brussels
A new offering in the heart of Belgium’s capital could see traditional horse-drawn carriages replaced with an electric alternative. To match the centuries old architecture, and to address concerns about animal welfare, local officials and a horse-drawn carriage business have developed an horse-free, all electric carriage, inspired by a design from 1832. The vehicle took more than a year to develop, and is hoped to be used by 15,000 people a year. It can travel 75 miles on each charge, and feeds into the city’s efforts to reduce traffic noise.
Bloomberg

Australia: Councils trial soft plastics collection
Nine councils across Victoria and South Australia are taking part in a “bag-in-a-bin” soft plastics recycling pilot. The scheme will see soft plastics, such as cling film and bread bags, collected kerbside alongside more traditional recycling and waste over a 12 month trial. Any soft plastics must be placed in an orange bin then placed in standard recycling bins. In the City of Ballarat, the pilot will involve 10,000 residents, with Mayor Des Hudson hoping it will inform the design of a large-scale soft plastics collection program.
Government News

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