The government has decided to invest an additional 639.370 euros by the end of the year in raising awareness among citizens and campaigns about the harmful effects of plastic bags on the environment, with almost half of the money earmarked for cooperation with sports clubs, 92.000 euros for the NGO "Green Home" to clean landfills and roads, 40.000 euros for research at the University of Montenegro...
The additional money is earmarked for amendments to the Program for Raising Awareness and Public Information on the Harmfulness of the Use of Plastic Bags and will be spent until the end of 2026. This Program was launched in July last year with a budget of 800.000 euros, and is financed from fees paid by retailers for the use of thicker plastic bags.
Montenegro must also conduct campaigns of this type for the European Union, namely the closure of the negotiation chapter 27 - Environment and Climate Change.
The Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development stated that through the Program, memoranda are being signed with academic communities, media, institutions and others, with the aim of reducing the use of bags, plastic waste, increasing the use of alternatives and raising awareness about the importance of recycling, while promoting Montenegro as an ecological state. They pointed out that the supervision and control of the project is carried out by the Eco-fund, which they inform that department about.
"The Program Amendments represent a continuation of the activities that were initiated by the previously adopted Program. The activities from the first phase were implemented according to the planned dynamics and in relation to the set indicators and goals, which is why the need arose for the Program to gain continuity and to be further improved through the inclusion of a larger number of partners in its implementation. Special emphasis was placed on the inclusion of organizations that work with youth and sports clubs, because they have significant potential to contribute to raising awareness and promoting environmentally responsible behavior through their activities. At the same time, the Program envisages cooperation with universities, the media and other partners, as well as conducting research that will contribute to the improvement of existing policies and future activities in the field of environmental protection," the department stated.
Memoranda for three groups
The Ministry stated that the Government's conclusion of June 18th defined responsibilities, so that the department will form a Commission for Monitoring the Program, while the contracts will be signed by the director of the Eco-Fund. They claim that the name delimits responsibilities, transparently manages money, and efficiently monitors the Program.
This Program, through a public call that will last two weeks, plans to invest 310.000 euros, for which sports clubs would apply and participate in spreading information about the harmful effects of using plastic bags and waste.
"The Ministry of Ecology will sign memorandums of cooperation with the selected sports clubs, and the Eco-Fund will sign sponsorship contracts, in accordance with the internal acts of that company. After its formation, the Commission will adopt the Rules of Procedure, as well as the criteria for selecting sports clubs, scoring their applications and planned activities, and, accordingly, the amount of funds to which sports clubs will be entitled under the sponsorship contract. The indicators are a minimum of 20 signed memorandums of cooperation with organizations that bring together youth, the involvement of a minimum of 1.000 young people in implementing actions of importance for environmental protection and cleaning surfaces from plastic bags, the implementation of a minimum of five actions of importance for raising awareness, and the organization of special workshops and info sessions for youth on the harmfulness of bags," the Program emphasizes.
The department will also implement the memoranda it already has with some organizations, so 185.000 euros is planned as direct financial support for those interested in raising awareness about the need to preserve nature and reduce the use of plastic.
The Memorandum of Cooperation with the Center for Multimedia Production (CEZAM) has planned 30.000 euros for the environmental film festival "Green Monetengro International Film Fest" (GMIFF), and at least 300 visitors are expected, at least two lectures or thematic workshops, and one campaign to remove plastic bags from nature.
There will also be cooperation with the Andrijevica Tourist Organization, and they will be paid 30.000 euros to organize at least two ecological music events, two lectures or campaigns on the topic of environmental protection, at least ten posts on social networks of local and national broadcasters about the promotion of environmental protection...
New subjects and studies
A partnership worth 20.000 euros is also planned with the University of Donja Gorica (UDG), through which the textbook "Environmental Law" will be published, i.e. the first monograph dealing with ecology in a broad sense. The intention is also to introduce a new teaching subject "Environmental Law", in order to organize regular forums and educate young people about ecology.
It is emphasized that UDG will also be a partner in the protection of the newly discovered plant "Petrolamium crnojevicii", whereby an exhibition will be organized to present it, at least two lectures on the topic of protection and its sustainability...
Through a memorandum of cooperation with the University of Montenegro, 40.000 euros will be invested to support the pilot project "Microplastics in the Tara River - an invisible threat to the pearl of nature", which will examine the presence of microplastics in the Tara River and assess its impact on the ecosystem. The goal is to verify the impact of plastic bags and microplastics on this river.
"In order to provide stronger media support for raising awareness among the population, cooperation with the Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG) is planned through the signing of a memorandum. The indicators are the recording and broadcasting of 36 TV series with environmental themes, the distribution of at least 10.000 bags to the citizens of Montenegro, with clear environmental messages and as an alternative to plastic bags, and the broadcasting of at least ten shows of educational and informative content, namely the podcast "Clean Story". The total budget of the allocated funds is 65.000 euros," the Program states.
For the third part of the Program, 144.370 euros are planned, of which the Ministry will invest 8.000 euros in research to identify shortcomings and risks and determine measures to improve the situation. Through a memorandum with the NGO "Green Home", 92.370 euros are planned for cleaning and rehabilitation of roads, i.e. illegal waste, improving safety and the appearance of routes at at least 260 illegal landfills.
Regarding the memorandum with the "KOD Organization", the intention is to purchase a wood chipper and reduce the risk of burning plant waste. 44.000 euros have been allocated for this cooperation, along with afforestation using drones in inaccessible areas.
The state pocketed 1,79 million.
The Ministry of Ecology told "Vijesti" that 1,79 million euros were paid to the Eco-Fund for fees for shopping bags thicker than 50 microns, in the period from October 2024 to the end of March this year.
The sale of plastic bags was partially banned at the end of October 2024, through the Waste Management Law, since when citizens can no longer buy lightweight bags with wall thicknesses of 15 to 50 microns in supermarkets and other retail outlets.
"The Eco-Fund has data that the total amount of funds collected on this basis, for the period from November 2024 to March 31, 2026, amounts to 1.796.588 euros," the ecology department said.
Bags thicker than 50 microns are purchased at the checkout and cost 17 cents each, while those thinner than 15 microns are free and are most often used in the fruit section of supermarkets. Retailers pay a fee of five cents each for the sale of these thicker bags.
As of October 2024, a ban on the sale of single-use plastics, including cotton swabs, cutlery, plates, straws, and food containers made of expanded polystyrene, has also been in effect.
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