Since the beginning of the implementation of the project Odvajamo in the City Municipality of Sevojno, 4.56 tons of primarily selected waste have been collected from bins, as presented at the promotion of the Project for Household Waste Separation in Užice on June 15th 2023.
"Primary separation of waste for the city of Užice is a very important topic, which we have been approaching very seriously for several years now, both through our strategic plans and decisions, as well as through the implementation of numerous projects", pointed out Dragoljub Stojadinović, Deputy Mayor of Užice, speaking at an event dedicated to the promotion of the "Odvajamo" project, the implementation of which began in March.
According to him, the donation of 540,000 euros in the form of equipment and vehicles is very valuable for the city, but the benefits that the city will have after the establishment of the primary waste separation system in more than 5,000 households are far more valuable."Our fellow citizens will have the opportunity to dispose of waste in a clearly defined manner, like citizens across Europe, and thus be largely responsible for the preservation of the environment themselves.
On the other hand, our utility companies will establish a sustainable waste management system, and very small amounts of waste, which are not subject to recycling or further processing, will end up at the landfill. For this reason, and just like a few months ago when we sent a very important message to the citizens of Užice from the City Municipality of Sevojno, today we also want to invite them to get involved in the implementation of this, for all of us, important project.
"Through this project, Užice received two vehicles for collecting and transporting waste, 5,350 bins, 570 containers for dry waste and 124 containers for glass. PUC "Bioktoš" which implements the activity, got involved with its own funds for the purchase of black bins for wet waste and part of the equipment has already been distributed.
According to the director of that company, Aleksandar Popović, 636 blue and black bins, 162 containers for selected waste and 32 containers for glass were distributed, and the first quantities of selected waste have already been sent to "Duboko" landfill.
"Waste separation is actually an immeasurable contribution to our community and society, and our goal is proper waste selection, constant increase in the amount of recycling in order to create a healthier environment for us and the generations to come. This project covers most of the households in Sevojno and we continue in the part of Užice where we left off with the previous project. The first bins will be given to those households that until now had a problem with waste disposal and which we can access with our vehicles and equipment. The education of citizens is ongoing, and we will continue to work on it.
"Primary selection will primarily contribute to the reduction of the amount of waste that is not subject to the process of recycling and further processing, and therefore to the preservation of the environment and the landfill body of the Regional Waste Management Centre "Duboko", which Tanja Knežević spoke about.
"What is important is the blue bin arrives to "Duboko" and after the separation of recyclable raw materials with commercial value which can go to further recycling is done, there remains the fraction that goes to the cement industry for energy production. Also, for us, the residents of Užice, the best motive for separating waste should be that the Regional Waste Management Centre is on our territory, and the blue bin is used 100 percent, and nothing is deposited, thus preserving our landfill, its life span and the environment. I would like to thank the residents of Užice who participate in the project, and those who have doubts to come to the Education Center of PUC "Duboko", visit the landfill, talk with us and understand the real importance of this project".
The "O-DVA-JA-MO" project is implemented in 17 municipalities in Serbia with the support of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia, the European Union and the Embassy of Sweden. The goal of the project is to recycle part of the waste generated in households, in order to reduce the amount that ends up in landfills and increase the recycling rate in these municipalities to 15%.
The Waste Management Program in Serbia 2022-2031, adopted by the Government of Serbia as part of EU accession, aims to improve the municipal waste management system through an increased rate of recycling, reduced disposal of biodegradable waste in landfills and reduced disposal of waste in unhygienic landfills.
Now everyone can separate waste fast and easily!