08.04.2019.
By symbolically handing over the keys to the director of the utility company in the official opening ceremony, Antonija Jozić, the mayor of Pleternica, put into operation the newly built recycling yard. Minister of Environment Tomislav Čorić, and Director of the Fund Dubravko Ponoš were also present at the ceremony. The facility, which is worth HRK 2.5 million, is located in the Pleternica business zone, and its construction was co-financed from EU funds under the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Cohesion.
“The town of Pleternica is a “green town” in the full sense of the phrase; we have a small hydro power plant, we hold the “Smart City” recognition, we pay full attention to energy efficiency, and to reducing power consumption, reducing CO2 emissions, and generating energy from renewable sources. All these are contributing to environmental protection, and, as of today, these efforts are further strengthened by the recycling yard that will be open to all citizens of Pleternica,” pointed out Mrs. Jozić, also announcing numerous education workshops aimed at proper waste disposal.
The director of Fund congratulated the mayor of Pleternica and her colleagues on the successfully completed project: “This project, as well as many others you are implementing in cooperation with the Fund, shows you have not only the vision, but you are also heading a team of people who carefully think through and implement the projects aimed at improving the quality of life of your citizens. You really set an example to smaller communities regarding how to successfully withdraw EU funding. Numerous acknowledgments you have received so far are not surprising, because in order to deserve the title of a “Smart City”, you have to manage the town in a clever manner,” said Director Ponoš.
Minister Ćorić pointed out that recycling yards represent an important part in the overall system of waste management. In his words, in the last year and a half 128 contracts for the construction of recycling yards had been signed, while 6 projects are in the procedure of being approved. “In the upcoming period we are expecting that separation of waste at source will increase. The procurement of containers is under way, the tender is open, and we are expecting that after roughly 1.2 million of containers are distributed to the households in Croatia, this segment of separation will increase,” said Minister Ćorić, adding that the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund were available to all units of local self-government in preparing for project application and implementation.
“I want our county to be the most beautiful one, and projects like this one contribute to increasing its appeal, and preserving it for posterity. We are moving in the direction of regarding waste not simply as rubbish, but as raw material that we should use to create new value. I believe that recycling yards built will be built soon in our five municipalities and towns respectively,” said the head of Požega-Slavonija County, Alojz Tomašević, who was also present at the ceremony of opening, along with MP Franjo Lucić.
