BEHAVE project: Shaping Sustainable Behaviour at Public Events and Spaces in Novo mesto
date: 08. 10. 2026
From reusable cups to waste sorting, the second BEHAVE stakeholder meeting in Novo mesto explored how small behavioural changes can make public events more sustainable. Building on experiences from the Family Festival, participants reflected on practical solutions that influence visitor behaviour and support waste prevention in public spaces.
On 1 October 2026, the Municipality of Novo mesto organised its second stakeholder meeting of the BEHAVE project. Meeting showed, how behaviour-based approaches can support waste prevention at public events and in public spaces. Building on lessons learned from the Family Festival, stakeholders discussed a practical example of how ideas inspired by BEHAVE were tested in a real-life setting and reflected on how these experiences can support future policy improvements.
From BEHAVE inspiration to real-life testing
One of the key objectives of the BEHAVE project in Novo mesto is to better understand how people behave in public spaces and at public events and how this behaviour can be influenced through thoughtful design and practical interventions. To test these principles in practice, reusable cups were introduced for the first time at the Family Festival in September 2026. In addition, an EKO island with clear instructions for waste separation was set up, supported by information staff who helped visitors sort their waste correctly.
The activity provided an opportunity to observe visitor behaviour and examine the effectiveness of the deposit-return system and waste separation practices. As in previous BEHAVE discussions, the focus extended beyond infrastructure and equipment to the way people interact with systems designed to prevent waste.
Stakeholder insights from practice
The meeting brought together representatives of local organisations involved in event management, education, public services, tourism, youth work and community development. Rather than discussing theoretical solutions, participants reflected on practical experiences from the Family Festival and shared observations from their own fields of work.
The discussion highlighted several factors that influence behaviour at events, including the visibility of collection points, the simplicity of return systems, clear guidance for visitors and the availability of supporting infrastructure. Stakeholders also discussed how reusable cup and waste separation systems could be expanded to other events across the municipality and what organisational arrangements would be needed to support their long-term use.
Designing realistic policy improvements
A central objective of the stakeholder meeting was to gather feedback from stakeholders, because their insights provide valuable evidence on what works in practice and which barriers still need to be addressed.
The experiences collected through the reusable cup initiative and waste separation system and stakeholder discussion will help the Municipality of Novo mesto develop realistic and effective policy improvements aimed at reducing waste generation at public events. By combining behavioural insights with practical experience, the municipality seeks to design measures that are both feasible for organisers and easy for visitors to adopt. These insights will play a key role in the planned revision of the relevant policy instruments with the aim of strengthening waste prevention measures at public events.
From local experience to wider change
The stakeholder meeting demonstrated the importance of involving local actors in the development of behaviour-based solutions. Inspired by the BEHAVE project and tested through real-life experience, the reusable cup initiative also provides valuable evidence for the planned revision of the municipal waste management ordinance. By incorporating practical feedback from stakeholders, the municipality aims to develop more effective measures that encourage sustainable behaviour at public events. The initiative represents an important step towards creating public events that generate less waste while fostering more sustainable habits among visitors.
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