23.02.2021.
The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund has provided HRK 50 million for the waste disposal measures in the areas hit by the earthquake in Sisak-Moslavina County. The method of implementation of these measures was presented today by the Director of the Fund Siniša Kukić, Assistant Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Anamarija Matak, and Head of the Fund’s Environmental Protection Sector Aleksandra Čilić.“In order to start rebuilding the earthquake-hit areas, first all locations where buildings collapsed have to be cleared, and construction with other types of waste has to be properly disposed of,” explained Director of the Fund Siniša Kukić. He brought to mind that at the last week’s session, the Croatian Government had adopted the Conclusion whereby the Fund would provide financial assistance, followed by the Plan adopted by the competent ministry defining the post-earthquake waste management activities that have to be carried out in Sisak-Moslavina County.
“Structural engineers have so far inspected 18 thousand buildings in the County. Sadly around 15% of these objects have been assessed as unfit for use, and they will have to be torn down. Hence this programme is vital to bring life in the area back to normal,“ said County Mayor Žinić.
The Fund and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development will carry out all activities in cooperation with local utility companies, and in continuous coordination with the Civil Protection Headquarters. To this end, cooperation agreements have been signed today with utility companies Gospodarenje otpadom Sisak d.o.o., Komunalac Petrinja d.o.o., and Komunalac Glina d.o.o. To each of the three utility companies the Fund will allocate HRK 8 million, with a 200 thousand kunas down payment to be disbursed to their respective accounts tomorrow. Assistant Minister Anamarija Matak said it will be discussed with the County and the Civil Protection Headquarters if there is a need to conclude more such agreements with other utility companies in Sisak-Moslavina County.
Head of the Environmental Protection Sector at the Fund, Aleksandra Čilić, explained that under these agreements the Fund would finance the collection, transport and treatment of waste, and purchase of the equipment. The goal is to have as much as possible of useful waste recovered, and not having it end up in landfills, especially because three of the five operating landfills in Sisak-Moslavina County are located in the affected areas.
The Fund will inform the citizens about all of these activities, and advise them on how to separate the waste from the collapsed buildings so that it could be properly disposed of as soon as possible.
