Regional environmental initiatives focus on waste management and urban hygiene

Various municipalities across the Balkans are implementing new environmental and hygiene measures. In Belgrade, Serbia, the public utility company ‘Gradska čistoća’ is conducting extensive operations, including the removal of illegal landfills and bulky waste across six municipalities, and an autumn campaign to suppress ticks in public green spaces such as Košutnjak and Ada Ciganlija.

In Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the ‘Eko Vrapčići’ association, in collaboration with local authorities, has begun distributing waste separation bins as part of the ‘Toward Zero Waste CBC’ project. This initiative aims to align local waste management with European Union standards.

Other regional efforts include a large-scale volunteer cleaning campaign in Skopje, North Macedonia, led by Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski to improve urban cleanliness. In Croatia, the city of Solin is introducing a door-to-door waste collection system with new bins for paper and plastic, while Novi Marof is providing free disposal of hazardous materials like asbestos-containing salonit sheets at recycling centers to prevent illegal burning.