Europe is placing money in Belarus under the pretext of the Green Economy concept. The EU has invested EUR 1 million in the plant which cost 779,000.
A waste sorting plant was opened near Navahrudak on June 24. The project was sponsored by the EU. On this occasion, there was first held a conference with the participation of European officials, and then the participants visited the new company where they talked with the journalists.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The Navahrudak authorities have been working with the EU on environmental projects for a long time. Perhaps the most famous of them today is a series of wind turbines: in 2011, it all began with one unit, now there are twelve. The new plant for sorting solid waste could be another “star”.
“You are even standing under the EU flag!”
At the official part, the Navahrudak District Executive Committee Chairman Anatol Markevich mentioned the tradition of the region’s cooperation with European organizations in projects related to alternative energy. For example, this year there are plans to run the station that would run on solar energy.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”218816″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]The representative of the EU Delegation to Belarus Andrea Wiktorin emphasized that Navahrudak is the second Belarusian city which had signed the Covenant of Mayors which facilitates the region’s cooperation with European structures.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”218824″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]”I am a happy person, because I came to Belarus when the situation had changed,” said Wiktorin. – “When there were opportunities for cooperation. The priority will be given to the projects aimed at the environment and regional development.” The EU representative even joked about the chairman of the District Executive Committee: “Belarus is a part of Europe. You are even standing under the EU flag! ” Indeed, the EU flag, in spite of the protocol, was on the side of Anatol Markevich, and that of Belarus – closer to Andrea Wiktorin.
“The president gave the go-ahead”
According to Aleh Shafranski, head of the regional utilities sector, the Navahrudak district is a model one in terms of waste management for the region. As much as 50% of the waste does not reach the landfill and is recycled. The priority, according to Shafranski, is still given to the ideological work with the population: people need to be taught to separately collect garbage from school.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”218812″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Curator of the project about the transition of Belarus to the model of “green economy” Volha Chabrovskaya referred to the president who “gave the green light” to the concept of improving human well-being without sacrificing economy.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”218964″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Chabrovskaya also mentioned some ecoprojects which are realized in cooperation with the EU: the production of wood chips from the stumps and sleepers, the construction of local sewage systems, breeding grouse in Naliboki Forest (the cost of one in Europe is $1,700) and the development of ecotourism in Svityaz.
12 jobs
The plant is a 15-minute drive from the center of Navahrudak. Next to it is the old landfill for disposal of solid waste. Anatol Markevich and Andrea WiKtorin solemnly cut the ribbon and had their first tour of the company. In fact, the plant is a big hangar where garbage is sorted, as well as several secondary buildings nearby.
During the tour, officials recalled that Navahrudak had been “free from garbage chutes in buildings” since February: the last one was welded in February 2016. New houses are built without the chutes, with containers for separate collection of waste in yards. Regional Head of Housing also spoke about the need to differentiate tariffs: the person who sorts the waste should pay less for its removal.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”218876″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]The company will employ 12 people who will be engaged only in garbage sorting: paper will be sent to Slonim and Mahiliou, Baranavichy will get glass etc.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/fFGvvZ1Mabk”][vc_column_text]The total project cost amounted to close to one million euros, of which 779,000 was spent on the building and equipment, and the rest – on spare parts, training, support services, and others. The company will start operating on 1 July.
