To prevent used textbooks, notebooks and notebooks from ending up as waste, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation invites parents and students to bring old school materials to their home schools on June 12, 13 and 16. The collected paper will be recycled by the Podgorica "Deponija".
Last year, as part of the same campaign, more than 106 tons of material were collected from 108 schools, although between 20 and 50 tons were initially expected.
"All books and notebooks are suitable for recycling. An average of 15 trees are needed to produce one ton of paper and cardboard," Vesna Milović from "Deponija" pointed out in "Boje jutra" on TV Vijesti.
Dragana Ćetković, from the Directorate for Higher Education and Student Standards, noted that recycling cannot fully replace the cost of producing new textbooks, but it can have a significant effect.
"Last year, more than 100 schools were equipped with NTEK laboratories - with 3D printers, recyclers and educational robots," Ćetković said, adding that similar investments are planned for this year.
Kristina Mihailović from the NGO "Parents' Association" recalled that the idea of free textbooks was introduced in 2021, but without the obligation to return the books.
"Parents approached us for the next two years asking us to start a recycling campaign," said Mihailović, adding that it was this request that led to the start of today's initiative.
However, the textbook inheritance system is difficult to implement in practice.
"In the first two cycles of primary school, about 90 percent of textbooks are actively used - students write in them, draw, fill them in. In the third cycle, textbooks are kept because they are needed for the preparation of the small graduation exam," explained Ćetković. She also pointed out that the lower cost of printing has affected the quality, which is why many books do not physically last more than one school year.
As for high schools and colleges, Ćetković believes that recycling opportunities exist to a limited extent.
Since 2021, the state has been financing the printing of free textbooks for all primary school students. In 2024, 2.973.000 euros were allocated for this purpose, and 69.342 sets were distributed.
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