Municipal waste management, one of the major environmental challenges for the Mediterranean area, is directly affected by population growth and concentration, urbanization and tourism. DECOST project aims to develop a new framework of waste management, building a closed-loop system of organic waste valorisation, integrating decentralised home and community composting systems with urban agriculture. This goal can only be achieved by using a people-centered approach, empowering civil society and increasing institutional capacity building. Thanks to DECOST, Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management Plans and pilot initiatives will be implemented in 4 different municipalities in order to reduce food waste, treat 1,500-2,000 tons of organic waste/year and use the produced compost in urban agriculture projects.