The Embassy of Slovenia in Podgorica will contribute to the preservation of the environment in Montenegro by using containers for waste sorting, the Slovenian ambassador Bernarda Gradišnik and the director of the Podgorica Landfill Aleksandar Božović said.
The Slovenian Embassy received containers for waste sorting from the city company Deponija.
That diplomatic mission received separate containers for paper, glass, cans and pet packaging, where each material can be individually packed, baled and exported outside of Montenegro.
Božović said that he would not call it a donation, but cooperation.
"I invite other embassies to be as accommodating as they are from the Slovenian Embassy and to contribute to the preservation of Montenegro," said Božović to the MINA agency.
The Slovenian ambassador to Montenegro, Bernarda Gradišnik, said that waste sorting has been used in Slovenia for years and that it is in people's minds.
She pointed out that the Embassy of Slovenia in Montenegro decided to adhere to the good practices that are normally applied in Slovenia.
"One of those good practices is sorting waste," Gradišnik told the MINA agency.
As she stated, this is done for the good of the planet and everyone can and must do their part and make a small contribution.
Gradisnik said that, as with everything, it is difficult at first.
"It's hard not to throw everything in the same basket, to think where you're going to throw something, but in the end it becomes automatic," said Gradišnik.
She thanked Božović for coming out to the Embassy to meet the containers, so that they could start with the good practice they have been applying for years in Slovenia.
"This is our small contribution to the preservation of the environment in Montenegro," said Gradišnik.
She invited everyone who does not sort waste in Montenegro yet to follow that example and contribute to the preservation of the planet.
"I was happy when a few days ago I saw the legal ban on the use of some types of bags in shops, and I am also happy about every action of the non-governmental and governmental sector that goes in the direction of preserving the environment and calls for people to actually start doing it and adhere to it", said Gradisnik.
She said that, as far as Chapter 27 - environment and climate change is concerned, it will be difficult in the negotiations and that work on that should start as soon as possible.
Gradisnik said that when it comes to waste recycling, when it started negotiations and became a member of the European Union (EU), Slovenia was well below the EU average.
"Now I can proudly say that we are in third place, just below Germany and Austria," said Gradišnik.
Božović pointed out that citizens' awareness is being awakened from the highest level, from the Government of Montenegro and decision makers.
He emphasized that it is important to change the awareness that every waste should not be turned into waste, but to use materials that are recyclable and that can be returned to reuse.
"Slovenia is like one of the countries that is an example of good practice that we need to follow, because I believe that they, so when they started with all this 20 or 21 years ago, it was not easy for them either and they were in a position where we are today," said Božović.
As he said, everything that was applied in Slovenia 20 years ago should be done in Montenegro.
Božović said that the issue of waste disposal is a very important topic, not only for the company Deponio and Montenegro, but also for the entire planet.
He warned that if the waste is constantly buried in the ground, there will be a situation where there will be no place to do it.
"If we work in this way, as Slovenia does, we will drastically increase the capacity of sanitary bathtubs and the number of years for disposal, and we will use the materials that can be reused again," said Božović.
He said that the important message of the action they initiated with the Slovenian Embassy is how much each individual can contribute to preserving the environment and making the community useful for future generations.
Božović stated that Deponija, as a company that deals with municipal waste treatment, already has contracts with 84 institutions that sort waste and collect it, as the Slovenian Embassy does.
"It is the first embassy that made a direct contribution like this, and they are truly an excellent example," said Božović.
He pointed out that there are embassies that are significantly larger in number and that can additionally contribute and provide larger quantities of recyclable material, so that it does not end up in the waste itself.
According to Božović, this year they have already exported over two thousand tons of different types of materials.
"And that brings us not only a benefit in the financial sense, but the main benefit for us is the preservation of space and sanitary bathtubs," said Božović.
As he said, the daily workload has been reduced.
"Every day, more than 350 tons of municipal waste arrive, so if we end up in a situation where at the end of the year we export two to three thousand tons of 120 thousand tons, that is a very significant amount and data for us," added Božović.
Speaking about the action with the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, in which textbooks are collected for recycling, he said that they collected 106 tons from 108 schools.
As he said, if the profit is 30 EUR per ton, it is a little over three thousand EUR, and the cost for visiting schools and collecting was close to five thousand EUR.
"And when we finally do the calculation, we are in fact in a financial loss, but in any case we gain something else - the awareness of those young people, students," Božović pointed out.
He pointed out that this results in less load and less waste on the street.
Božović added that it is important for the company Deponija that this waste does not end up in sanitary vats, where it will be buried, but is returned to use.
He said that the Landfill is trying to increase the number of partners such as the Slovenian Embassy and to increase the awareness of citizens and institutions about the importance of waste separation.
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