27.11.2020.
The participants in the panel on circular economy in households included: Aleksandra Čilić from the Fund, Alen Hadžić, head of the Environmental Protection and Development Service at the Zagreb Holding Subsidiary Čistoća, Natko Gaberc, head of the Administrative Department for economy, EU projects, utility activity, physical planning and environment, and property-legal affairs at the Town of Sveta Nedelja, and Robert Vražić, Logistics director at Vetropack Straža d.d.Mrs Čilić mentioned responsible waste management, which has become the global problem, and together with climate change it is on the agenda of all policies at EU level.
“A 6 percent increase of separate waste collection in 2019 compared to 2018 is a significant step forward but seeing as this rate is at the moment at 37%, we still have to put in a lot of effort at both local and national levels. The citizens are familiar with the waste separation process, but they are missing the containers at doorsteps, recycling yards, and they also warn about improper separation. A regulated legislative framework, the necessary infrastructure, and education are the foundation of sustainable development, said Mrs Čilić, adding that the Fund relaunched the campaign “We’re not trash!” (Nisam za bacit!) to encourage more conscientious waste separation with the new containers that were distributed.
Other participants in the conference were distinguished experts and representatives of the companies with experience in circular economy, and important topics in that field were discussed, including the importance of the Green Deal, which has a key role in achieving an ambitious plan of transforming Europe into a climate-neutral continent by 2050.
In the conclusion to the conference, Hrvoje Prćić, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Croatia, said: “It was not our intention to solve the world’s, or Croatia’s for that matter, problems, we just wanted to focus on some topics, and pave the way, see where we are now, and what we should do in the future, and what are our strengths and weaknesses.”
