It is time to develop the concept of “Zero Waste Municipalities” in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina through the project ” Zero Waste Municipalities”, as well as to promote the reduction of waste creation at its source. This approach requires a change in the habits and culture of living acquired so far in the first place by putting a reduction in the use of materials and energy.
Project activities are being implemented in six pilot municipalities: Visoko, Ilijaš and Sarajevo Center in BiH and Bajina Bašta, Vladimirci and Krupanj in Serbia. Action plans for zero waste will be created for the mentioned municipalities within the project. Also, experts will create investment technical analysis based on the concept of zero waste, and develop an interactive GIS map of illegal landfills in each municipality. Through the map finding of the locations of such landfills the work on cleaning sites by the public utility companies will be facilitated. The project will additionally ensure the cleaning of one landfill in the area of municipalities. The sets of bins for separate waste collection will be provided to the population in the pilot municipalities, as well as composters for organic waste disposal. The base for the development of the circular economy and the concept of zero waste in the cross-border area will be created through the implementation of the project activities. The pilot municipalities will also stand out as the “initiators” of a sustainable waste management model in the region.
“The significance of the project Zero Waste Municipalities is reflected in the wider impact which will result from the implementation of project activities. Also, resolving problems in the waste management system goes towards the concept of zero waste and ultimately towards a common transition and a circular economy”, stated Šejla Mahmutović, project manager.
