27.09.2011.

More than 40% of Serbia’s garbage is deposited in the country’s 4,500 illegal dumps. These are often located near rivers, city squares and parks, endangering public health and impacting the quality of life. In addition, trash is often collected by marginalized groups that can be brought into the mainstream to profit from their efforts.

The dynamic new USAID-supported Green Initiative Campaign, launched at a press conference at which the Minister of Environment, Mining and Spatial Planning and USAID Mission Director spoke last week, links some of Serbia’s most prominent and active civil society groups to tackle waste management issues at the local, regional and national levels with governmental leaders.

“Serbia has made great progress in raising public awareness about environmental protection and the importance of recycling. However, greater effort is needed to unify the environmental sector behind a common vision. Doing so will maximize environmental impact while sharing resources and know-how. A common vision will also demonstrate that citizen’s groups can achieve far more by working together than by working alone,” said USAID’s Mission Director Susan Fritz.

Oliver Dulic, Minister of Environment, Mining and Spatial Planning, said that „thus far around 8.000 new jobs were created within the ’green’ economy, responsible for wate mangement and recycling, and that before the end of the current government’s manadate a total of 10.000 jobs will be created, which is a great achievement in times of an economic crisis.“

The initiative will build action-oriented civic coalitions and develop waste management plans that provide opportunity for marginalized waste collectors while increasing recycling efforts.