Manufacturers to deal more with waste

The waste management system in Montenegro must be drastically improved, and the system as recently presented by the Chamber of Commerce (PKCG), if implemented consistently, can significantly increase waste collection and recycling rates.

That's what she said in an interview with "Vijesti". Marina Tomović from ZeroWaste Montenegro (ZWMNE), commenting on the Chamber of Commerce's study on packaging and packaging waste management, which proposes the gradual introduction of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, with the possibility of further expansion of the packaging waste management system.

The EPR concept, explains Tomović, derives from the "polluter pays" principle, and implies the financial and operational responsibility of the producer for the management of waste generated after the consumer has used the product.

"One example of the EPR concept is a program that allows customers to return their electronic and white goods waste to the manufacturer or retailer. The costs of recycling those products are covered by a fee paid by the manufacturer at the time of placing the product on the market. Traders can also take over cardboard and styrofoam packaging of the same products. Another example is when retailers offer consumers a certain fee for old products. In Montenegro, this practice is established for car batteries, where end users get a discount on a new product when they return the old one," she explained.

The organization ZWMNE says that the waste management system in Montenegro needs to be "drastically improved", and that "a functional EPR program, which would be implemented in a consistent manner, can significantly increase the rates of waste collection and recycling".

"The introduction of the EPR scheme will also ensure that the costs of waste management are borne by the producers instead of, as before, only by the taxpayers. The data that ZWMNE collects every year during cleaning actions and waste audits show that plastic bottles make up more than half of the waste found on our shores. Bearing these figures in mind, our organization has been advocating for the introduction of the packaging return scheme (DRS) for years," said Tomović and added that the DRS scheme can be complementary to the EPR program, which the study of the Chamber of Commerce identifies in one of the scenarios.

She also said that an initiative was recently launched to introduce a return scheme for plastic bottles and aluminum cans, and that the introduction of the EPR program and the organizations responsible for implementing EPR (PRO) could represent a turning point for the waste problem in Montenegro.

Commenting on the extended producer responsibility scheme as a concept, she said that the EPR program "can ensure that full responsibility for the life cycle of products and packaging is borne by producers".

"A good EPR program should also be convenient for citizens, to encourage and facilitate them to do the 'right thing'. But of course, the EPR works properly only when certain preconditions are met", she explained, adding that these preconditions are a functional waste management system in accordance with the waste hierarchy, a strong legal framework that includes the collection of waste deposit fees, an effective infrastructure for waste collection and effective controls and reporting.

The "extended producer responsibility" program, explained Tomović, is recognized in the current Law on Waste Management from 2016 and in the new draft law that is awaiting adoption.

"However, that program was not consistently implemented, so the costs of waste management at the local and national level were borne by the Government and local municipalities, i.e. taxpayers. We hope that with the adoption of the new law, we will have a fully functional EPR program in which producers jointly participate in these costs," she said.

From ZWMNE, in their comments on the PKCG study, they say that the concept they recommend - a combination of EPR/DRS (packaging return scheme, Deposit Return Scheme) and a system of separate waste collection, represents a concept that this NGO also stands for.

But the study's findings do not mention practices at the top of the waste hierarchy (avoid > reuse > repair > recycle > landfill), such as redesigning and reusing products and packaging to reduce resource use and waste, as well as toxicity and ecological footprint", said Tomović.

The measure that would ensure consistent monitoring of the waste hierarchy, she added, is the introduction of a monetary fee for dumping waste at landfills.

"From where the money could be diverted to finance practices from the top of the hierarchy. We all agree: the existing system of 'wet' and 'dry' fractions for waste collection does not work - sorting at the source (that is, where the waste is generated) has proven to be the most optimal way to ensure a better quality and quantity of sorted waste, especially for less mature waste management systems such as Montenegro", she said, adding that ZWMNE in Gusinje, as a pilot, implements the Zero Waste City program (cities without waste), which recommends the establishment of a waste management system with five streams.

ZWMNE also believes that the organization for extended producer responsibility should be an independent body, and not a body linked to an existing producer.

"The experience of other countries shows that PROs work best as non-profit companies established jointly by producers, which reduces the costs of maintaining the company and helps prevent corruption. Sustainable financing of the EPR program and PRO is a key prerequisite for the successful operation of the PRO and the functioning of the EPR program. One of the recommendations that ZWMNE made to the Ministry regarding the new draft law was that producers bear 100 percent of the costs in the EPR program. This is also stated as a requirement in the EU Framework Directive on waste, updated in 2018. The directive emphasizes that the producers of certain types of waste are collectively responsible for the management of that waste stream," Tomović said, adding that, "if the EPR program is implemented transparently, with dialogue of all relevant actors and with a financially sustainable plan for the functioning of the program and PRO, the scope for abuse will be limited".

Glass, paper, packaging...

The Chamber of Commerce, during the presentation of the study, said that the most suitable model for Montenegro would be the EPR system with the collection of three fractions of waste, namely light packaging, paper and glass, for which separate bell-shaped containers are used.

"In the event of initial problems with the placement of different containers in cities, it is suggested, as an alternative option, to collect two fractions - one bell-shaped container for paper and light packaging, and the other for glass", clarified the Chamber and added that in the future , if a decision is made to introduce a deposit system for beverage packaging that would be complementary to EPR, the preferred scenario would be for the EPR implementation organization (PRO) to collect two fractions of packaging - one container for light packaging and paper, and the other for glass.

Along with "polluters", include civil society

From ZWMNE, they evaluated the fact that the study by the Chamber of Commerce was financed by producers, that is, "polluters" - Coca Cola Montenegro, Knjaz Miloš Montenegro and Industrije beer and juices "Trebjesa.

"This shows that the private sector is aware of the role it plays in the current pollution crisis in Montenegro, as well as that they are key actors in solving the issue of good waste management. This dialogue should also be extended to civil society, in order to ensure that the best interests of citizens and the principles of environmental protection and circular economy are respected when developing possible solutions," said Tomović.