JemsOn Wednesday 26 November 2025, a promotional event was held in Cavtat, where the Municipality of Konavle presented the new equipment purchased as part of the EU-funded To 0 Waste project. The project aims to improve the waste management system, increase the rate of separate waste collection, and support the transition to a circular economy. Its implementation represents a significant contribution to the long-term sustainable development of the local community.
In his opening remarks, the Mayor of the Municipality of Konavle, Mr Božo Lasić, welcomed all attendees and stated:
“I am truly pleased that we are gathered here around the ‘To 0 Waste’ project. We must be smart and strategic and make full use of everything the European Union offers us. I believe that, thanks to our municipal department, Konavle truly makes use of all available opportunities, and we can be more than satisfied with the number of successfully completed projects. I am glad we are mov-ing in the right direction, especially when it comes to tackling challenges such as waste collection and recycling. We must be aware that today’s person produces more waste than used to be gener-ated over an entire lifetime, and most of what we dispose of is not biodegradable. We are often referred to as a ‘civilisation of waste’—which is why it is essential that we act together. I am de-lighted that we are here today, discussing these challenges, and that you will have the opportunity to see what we have achieved so far and what we plan to accomplish in the future.”
Project team representative and Head of the Department for Rural Development, Economy and EU Funds of the Municipality of Konavle, Mr Perica Pušić, presented the project’s key objec-tives and activities, including public education, the optimisation of waste collection logistics, and the introduction of technological solutions enabling faster and cleaner operations. He also reflect-ed on the groundwork that preceded the project itself:
“We are pleased that, in cooperation with our municipal company Čistoća i zelenilo Konavle, we succeeded in securing significant extrabudgetary funding to create the key material prerequisites for the new waste management system. Prior to this, we built a recycling yard, procured contain-ers for separate waste collection, composters and municipal equipment, and carried out an infor-mation and education campaign. The ‘To 0 Waste’ project also includes an important component of experience exchange with our partners. We are fully aware of the targets we must reach regard-ing waste separation and the required percentages, but we can also say that in certain processes we have already taken several steps forward. For this reason, our experience can be both valuable and useful to our partners in the project.”
The Director of Čistoća i zelenilo Konavle d.o.o., Mr Pavo Arbulić, spoke about the technical importance of the newly acquired equipment and the ways in which it has improved operational processes:
“This year, the Municipality of Konavle will achieve its best result yet in waste separation—we are finally surpassing the 25% threshold and moving towards the targets set for us. We are aware that there is still a lot of work ahead, especially when aiming for a 60% separation rate, but we will continue to invest maximum effort in developing more efficient systems and improving service quality. Our goal is to serve our citizens and organise our work so that users receive the highest-quality service possible. This project greatly supports us in that. The trucks procured through the project were crucial for improving the system, and by replacing old containers with semi-underground units, we tripled the capacity within the same space. The new small electric vehicle is primarily intended for businesses, especially restaurants, enabling us to increase collection fre-quency, raise service quality, and jointly create a cleaner and more pleasant environment.”
Following the presentations, a live demonstration of the equipment was held on the Cavtat wa-terfront, where attendees were able to see how the devices operate in practice and how they are used in regular municipal activities. The true value of this equipment lies in its ability to deliver tangible improvements in daily operations and significantly enhance the efficiency of municipal services.
Through the implementation of the To 0 Waste project, the Municipality of Konavle reaffirms its commitment to modern and environmentally sustainable solutions, further strengthening its posi-tion as a local government that actively takes steps towards European goals of reducing waste and increasing recycling.
The To 0 Waste project is co-financed by the European Union under the Interreg VI-A IPA Programme Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro 2021-2027. The total duration of the project is 30 months, starting from 15 July 2024. The total project budget amounts to EUR 2,251,839.00, with EU co-financing of EUR 1,914,063.15, while the total budget allocated to the Municipality of Konavle is EUR 622,125.00. Alongside the Municipality of Konavle, the project partners include the Municipality of Tuzi (Lead Partner) and the City of Mostar.
