Presenting the results of EU Beach Clean up day in Montenegro

13.10.2021

300 volunteers collected over 3 tons of waste

 

More than 300 volunteers collected 3.3 tons of waste on 19 beaches across Montenegro, as a part of marking the European and World Beach Clean-up Day, which was organised by the NGO Zero Waste on the last Saturday of September, under the auspices of the European Union in Montenegro. The results of the action and the audit of the collected waste were presented in the premises of the EU Info Centre. The waste audit was done at each location in order to obtain data on which waste predominantly pollutes the Montenegrin beaches and who are the biggest polluters.

As in the previous four years, this year is dominated by disposable packaging, especially plastic bottles.

"Niksic beer, Coca Cola, Rauch, Rosa, and Suza are the biggest polluters of our shores this year. What they all have in common is that they are producers of beverages that are packaged in disposable packaging. No matter how many cleaning actions we organise, we will not be able to solve the waste problem. We will solve it only through a smart transition to a circular economy, that is, through returnable packaging, through a well-designed system of deposit return schemes," said Emina Adrovic from the NGO Zero Waste Montenegro.

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Waste recycling is part of the solution, but not the solution, says Adrovic. We all need to take measures to reduce waste, especially disposable packaging. Not only individuals, but also companies and decision makers at the state and local levels.

"Decisions that must be made as soon as possible are the ban on disposable plastics, the introduction of returnable packaging through a deposit return scheme, and the introduction of a law on extended liability of producers with a special focus on disposable packaging. I hope that more people will start using thermoses and cotton bags, companies will turn towards a circular economy, and decision makers will promote the reuse of items as a priority," said Adrovic.

The good news is that, on the other hand, the number of partners involved in cleaning the beaches is growing. Thus, the coordinator of the action for cleaning the shores of the Moraca River in Podgorica was the city company Čistoća.

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“Čistoća always responds to calls for action in order to raise awareness about environmental pollution with various types of waste and the need to reduce it. As coordinators of the action on Galeb Beach, we gave our support by providing the manpower and mechanisation needed to transport the collected waste," said Danica Lakovic from the company Čistoća Podgorica.

Environmental protection  in the European Union’s constant focus, as it is for its representatives in Montenegro, said the EU Info Centre.

"In recent years, the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro and the EU Info Centre have conducted various environmental campaigns to raise public awareness of the need to protect the environment, reduce waste and its proper disposal and recycling. Be a champion - throw waste in the right place; Set an example – Join in; these are just some examples of the campaigns. The EU’s support for the protection of the environment in Montenegro through the accession process is constant, as is the presence of the Delegation's staff at clean-up operations. This year, the employees of the Delegation cleaned Buljarica Beach in Budva," said Sasa Palibrk from the EU Info Centre.

This was the fifth waste cleaning action organised as part of the European and World Beach Clean-up Day and is the largest volunteer action in Montenegro.