Mobilising of the Slovenian and Croatian border regions in the use of the concept 4R+3E in waste management

Waste is generated by various activities such as tourism, industry, agriculture, municipal economy, at households and elsewhere.

Owing to its inappropriate handling, waste has become a problem whose solution is a priority in Croatia, since it represents a threat to the natural environment and health. At the European level the legal regulations prescribing the appropriate management of waste have already been adopted and Croatia is currently in the process of approximation of its legislation with the European norms. However, the quantities of generated waste keep increasingly growing. In order to slow down this negative trend it has become a practice in the European Union to shift the responsibility of waste management to the local level. Since effective local actions are necessary, Zelena Istra will, together with its partner environmental organisations in Slovenia, try to mobilize all segments, in both states, precisely at this level. The possibility to participate and cooperate in the local waste management cycle is of utmost importance for its successful completion. It is for this very reason that representatives of local self-government, municipal and private companies active in the collection of waste, educational institutions, companies that generate waste, as well as the citizens are invited to participate in this project.

Zelena Istra shall implement the Project “Mobilising of the Slovenian and Croatian border regions in the use of the concept 4R+3E in waste management ” together with three Slovenian non-governmental organizations for environmental protection; Pomurski ekološki center, Notranjski ekološki center and Zveza ekoloških gibanj Slovenije. The funds for the project are donated by the European Union within its Neighbourhood Programme Slovenia-Hungary-Croatia (Community Initiative Programme Interreg IIIA – development of cross-border cooperation). Within the scope of the project that began on 29th December 2005 and that will last until 28th December 2007, Zelena Istra will, together with its Slovenian partners, work on the raising of the awareness of the general public with respect to the possibilities and the importance of proper handling of the waste, present examples of good practice, work on transfer of knowledge both on the local and cross-border level. What is the 4R+3E concept in waste management?

The 4R+3E concept means that in addition to the usual waste management procedures and handling that is mainly directed at collecting, transportation and disposal of waste, we shall introduce elements of awareness and education, include the entrepreneurial sector and introduce new methods of waste handling:

4R:

• Reduce – reduce the quantity of waste at the source
• Reuse – reuse for a practical purpose
• Recycle – recycle or process, use for the manufacture of new products
• Recover – choose harmless materials /use in order to save energy

3E:

• Educate – raise the awareness and educate about responsible waste handling, increase the understanding of the importance and of the possibilities of proper waste management, indicate at the damage that may occur due to improper waste disposal, educate about the technological processes of waste handling and advise on the benefits that arise from the decrease of waste generation at the source
• Economise – lower the costs of waste management, include the waste disposal costs in the cost of the product/service by adopting the motto: “the polluter pays”.
• Enforce – apply concepts of effective waste management in legislation and practice, include all the interested parties in the planning, decision making and management process.

The main goals of the “Cross-border concept 4R+3E” project

The main goal of the cooperation between the bordering regions is the improvement of the conditions in the environment, the raising of the awareness in the project area of the existence of common interests in the solution of problems that appear in the environment of bordering regions, the motivation of an active participation in the protection of the environment, the interactive raising of awareness of the target groups and the general public in respect of innovations in appropriate waste management and the increased use of the concept 4R+3E in waste management.

Target groups

Municipalities and cities, municipal companies, manufacturing companies, schools, NGO’s, citizens, institutions and others will be participating to the project.

Donor

Delegation of the European Commission to the Republic of Croatia