Among steps undertaken by the municipally owned Stockholm Water were renovation of the waste water network, construction of a storm sewer overflow basin and measures to reduce the load on pipes and treatment plants.

In 1987, citizens of Gothenburg accepted the challenge of cleaning up their city and succeeded admirably.

Job creation, to stop migration of its residents to bigger cities, was the aim of Overtornea's action plan.

Urban waste will cease to be a problem if it is treated as a resource rather than refuse from consumption, which requires disposal.