98,000 EUR for separation of waste - Sombor with partners started realization of project "Raising public awareness of waste management"

City of Sombor, its cross-border partner from Hungary - the small region of Baja, and partners from Republic of Serbia (municipalities of Apatin, Odžaci, Kula and Bač, Sombor-based public utility company "Čistoća", Faculty of Economy Subotica and Regional SME Development Agency in Sombor) have started realization of project "Raising public awareness of waste management in the region of West Bačka and the Danubian region", which is financed by European Union through CARDS programme.

The aim of the project is creation of preconditions for improvement of waste management system through making better access to information and raising awareness of the population, and it is closely related to changing of citizens’ habits concerning ecology and process separation of useful waste.

Total value of the project is 98,195 EUR, 9,900 EUR of which will be provided by the city of Sombor, while the amount of donation is 88,295 EUR. The project itself lasts for 12 months, prior to year 2010.

The project comprises four phases. The first phase will include analysis of current state of waste management and citizens’ awareness of classification of waste that is suitable for recycling. The second phase will include establishment of waste management information center in Sombor, organization of media campaign for raising citizens’ awareness of the need for environment protection, organization of “Environment Protection Week” and drawing and painting contest whose main topic will be environment protection. That will be followed by educational activities focused on pre-school and school children and students, as well as training in Baja. The last, fourth phase concerns project management and realization of planned project activities.

During the project, a database and a website will be created, seven trash-collecting vehicles will be branded, working trainings will be organized in Baja in Hungary, 104 containers for paper and 67 for PET packaging will be procured, and “green spot” will be created in schools and other places on the territory covered by the project.