European best practices in waste management: from the Czech republic to Sarajevo's new strategic waste plan
Published: Jun 9, 2022 Reading time: 4 minutesThe Cantonal Public Utility Company "RAD" (CPUC “RAD”) has initiated the development of a strategic plan that integrates Czech and EU best practices in waste management. CPUC "RAD" will continue to work on developing this in the coming period. In addition to strategic planning conducted in late May, employees had the opportunity to exchange experiences with experts and create further steps for the future. Waste management company Dekonta's teams in BH and CZ are partners in the PIN supported "Efficient Waste Management System in Sarajevo Canton" project. The project is led by People in Need Bosnia and Herzegovina and is supported by the Czech Development Agency and the Government of the Czech Republic.
Training was provided as part of the project and covered various valuable topics, including mapping and creating a database of locations and number of bins for separate waste collection, methodology for continuous collection, evaluation of required data, and development of a SWOT analysis for waste flow. The training was conducted to introduce a structure for the analytical assessment of strategic documents, data collection methodology, and practical training in the analysis of waste streams defined in previous training (mixed municipal waste, bulky waste, separate collection—paper, plastic, glass, metal, and organic/biodegradable waste).
During a conversation with the employees of CPUC "RAD", the employees expressed satisfaction with the education offered by the project. The employees noted that they gained deeper insights into best practices and various solutions for establishing and operating efficient waste management systems. This was achieved with the assistance of experts from Czech waste management providers. The employees will adjust and apply their new knowledge to improve processes and further develop waste management by CPUC "RAD" in the Sarajevo Canton.
Maida Čukojević, a Coordinator of activities on the project, could not hide her enthusiasm for her training and the knowledge she acquired. She was gracious in giving thanks for this opportunity for employees and the first direct meeting with experts in waste management. She emphasised that such cooperation is essential because educators from the Czech Republic have already gone through what the employees of CPUC "RAD" are currently going through. She noted that these experiences and the intendant knowledge would open the way to solutions to raising issues in the region.
Adnan Šaćirović, Project Equipment Distribution Coordinator on the project, and Muzafer Zorlak, Project Training Coordinator, both believe that the training improved knowledge.
"New experiences were shared thanks to the experts from the Czech Republic, who made maximum contribution to the implementation of professional and high-quality training," they said, adding that they hoped that in the next training, and the upcoming study visit to the Czech Republic, they would have the opportunity to confirm and transfer the acquired knowledge, and to apply it in the CPUC "RAD".
Elvira Mulaibrahimović, the Project Finance Coordinator, also expressed satisfaction with the training stating that it was necessary for employees because they would be prepared for the upcoming challenges. She believes that solutions to specific waste management problems can be found through adaptation within the framework of environmental protection and waste management.
Maja Daul, Director of Dekonta BH, believes that this type of training was necessary and long-awaited because CPUC "RAD" faces very real but solvable problems, which can be solved with the help and supervision of the project's experts. She believes that the education exceeded expectations and that the company's representatives have already shown remarkable progress and initiative.
Fatima Smajlović, Project Manager of "Efficient waste management system in Sarajevo Canton", stated that the project aims to contribute to the improvement of waste management in Sarajevo Canton.
"This will be achieved by improving the infrastructure capacity of CPUC "RAD". Specifically, the procurement of equipment for the establishment of 275 green islands for waste sorting: paper, metal/plastic, and glass; composters for 2000 households; construction of one public recycling yard in the canton; education of crucial CPUC “RAD” staff through the preparation and implementation of a series of tailored training, workshops; and organisation of a study visit to the Czech Republic. These steps will help in establishing more efficient coordination between the canton, line ministry, municipalities and companies in Sarajevo Canton, raising awareness of the importance of waste sorting and recycling," Smajlović explained.
The project "Efficient Waste Management System in Sarajevo Canton" is worth 2.6 million Convertible Marks and is led by the People in Need Bosnia and Herzegovina in partnership with Dekonta BiH and Czech teams, CPUC "RAD" and funded by the Czech Development Agency.
