The establishment of a regional waste management system for Novi Sad
The introductory workshop of the project "Technical Assistance for the Establishment of a Regional Waste Management System for the City of Novi Sad and Municipalities in the Novi Sad Region" was held on October 30, 2024, at the Science and Technology Park in Novi Sad.
The workshop was organized to familiarize all participants with the activities that have been implemented so far. Additionally, the goal was to present the expected outcomes and the next steps that should contribute to the establishment of an efficient and sustainable waste management system in the region covering the City of Novi Sad and the municipalities of Bačka Palanka, Bački Petrovac, Beočin, Žabalj, Srbobran, Temerin, and Vrbas.
„This project is not just a technical challenge; it is also an opportunity for all of us to contribute to a better future for your region, improve environmental conditions, and enhance the quality of life for citizens, by strengthening the capacity for implementing a waste management system in line with national and EU requirements,“ said Vladica Božić from the Sector for International Cooperation and Climate Change at the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
Highlighting the importance of the regional waste management concept that Serbia has strategically embraced, Jelena Šarenac, Acting Assistant Provincial Secretary for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection – Sector for Cleaner Production and Sustainable Development, emphasized that this concept promotes technically appropriate, economically viable, and socially acceptable solutions for waste treatment that do not degrade the environment or pose a health risk to people. „Regional waste management through the joint management of waste by multiple municipalities benefits each municipality and its citizens,“ Šarenac concluded.
“This project represents our commitment to ecological principles and a shift toward modern and efficient waste management. Our goal is to minimize the environmental impact and health risks for our citizens, while raising awareness about the importance of sustainable waste management. Thanks to our collaboration with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and support from EU funds, we have already started taking important steps towards implementing this project. In the coming years, we expect the construction of the Regional Waste Management Center, which will significantly improve infrastructure and waste management systems in our region,” said Vanja Petković, Member of the City Council for Ecology, Energy Efficiency, and Environmental Protection of the City of Novi Sad.
In the first part of the workshop, participants were introduced to the specific objectives and expected outcomes of the project, which were presented by Herbert Heinz, the technical assistance team leader. Experts involved in the project provided an overview of the existing legal framework and institutional capacities relevant for the further development of the regional waste management system, as well as an assessment of the need to improve existing planning documents and the operational waste management system in the region. Furthermore, financial indicators in waste management, which are important for the continued implementation of the project activities, were also presented.
In the second part of the workshop, key aspects of the methodology for assessing the need for professional development and capacity building within the regional waste management system were discussed, as well as the methodology for assessing the current level of public awareness about the waste management system in the region. At the end of the workshop, Elena Janković, the key expert on the project, presented the next steps in implementation to ensure that all participants were familiar with the activities planned for the next six months.
