October 26, 2020 - The President of the Municipality of Tivat, Zeljko Komnenovic, and the Executive Director of the NGO "Our Action", Patricia Pobric, signed today an Agreement on Cooperation within the Cross-Border Cooperation Project Bosnia and Herzegovina - Montenegro, "YOUth Drive- Program for raising awareness on proper waste management and empowering legislators to take action." It is a project that connects the Bay of Kotor and the West Herzegovina County with numerous activities, aimed at protecting the environment through improved waste management and consistent application of energy efficiency principles.
The project, supported by the European Commission, is worth € 279,200.48 and will cover seven communities: Ljubuški, Grude, Posušje, Široki Brijeg (BIH), Herceg Novi, Tivat, and Kotor (MNE). The project will last from November 15, 2020, to May 15, 2021.
"Bearing in mind that we are a tourist destination, issues of environmental protection and treatment of various types of waste are of key importance, and we desperately need such projects supported by the European Union," the mayor of Tivat pointed out.
The project leader, Patricia Pobrić, mentioned that the project's goal is to strengthen capacity to apply environmental protection and energy efficiency standards at the local level and that "the municipalities involved in the project are offered a unique opportunity to address this issue."
The project defines two activities: those related to the waste management process itself and activities aimed at young people and the public. When it comes to the waste management process, partners in the project will analyze waste treatment, pollution of watercourses, and characteristics of illegal landfills. The subjects of analyses will also be the existing regulations for waste management, planning and strategic documentation, and existing infrastructure, with development of recommendations at the regional and local level being conducted.
Activities with young people and the public will include developing information material for students, the development of a digital platform, educational info-sessions in schools, a promotional campaign on social networks, and multi-day educational events.
By participating in this project, TIvat Municipality will receive concrete analysis and recommendations from the subject areas. Participation in a series of activities to raise awareness of the importance of environmental protection and application of energy efficiency principles will be offered, and primary and secondary school students will have the opportunity to participate in numerous educational events. The project benefits include bins for electronic waste and a container totalling an estimated value of € 14,000.
