CircleAware: Driving Awareness and Accelerating the Circular Economy Transition

The overall objective of the CircleAware project is to promote sustainable waste management practices and foster the transition towards a circular economy in the participating territories of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. By the end of the project, the aim is to achieve improved waste management infrastructure, increased waste diversion rates from landfills, heightened public awareness about the circular economy, and strengthened cross-border cooperation among the partners.

CircleAware is a collaborative initiative addressing common waste management challenges and promoting sustainability in the cross-border region encompassing Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. The project partners – the City of Trilj, Komunalno Kotor d.o.o., and the Institute for Protection and Ecology of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka – aim to improve waste management practices and facilitate the transition to a circular economy.

The region faces challenges such as outdated waste management infrastructure, low recycling rates, and improper waste disposal, which lead to environmental degradation and resource depletion. These challenges hinder economic progress and pose health risks.

Expected changes include reducing waste generation and landfill disposal, increasing recycling and resource recovery, and positively impacting social, economic, and environmental development.

The project focuses on improving waste management infrastructure to optimize waste collection and recycling, contributing to better overall waste management efficiency. Additionally, the implementation of pilot waste separation programs with designated containers and educational campaigns will raise public awareness and encourage behavioral changes toward waste segregation and recycling.

Interactive educational programs in elementary schools will engage students in learning about the circular economy and sustainable waste management practices. Training for public administration representatives will integrate circular economy principles into waste management policies.

CircleAware establishes cross-border cooperation, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and best practices among partners to improve waste management initiatives. The project includes visits between partners, enabling observation and learning from successful waste management practices in different territories. Furthermore, training on the circular economy equips public administration representatives to integrate sustainable practices into waste management policies.

The CircleAware project introduces innovative approaches to education – engaging elementary school students through interactive programs fosters environmental awareness from an early age, promoting sustainability in the next generation. Moreover, practical examples of circular economy practices through pilot waste separation programs motivate citizens to adopt sustainable waste management practices. Additionally, the CircleAware project introduces an innovative digital solution for the recycling center, addressing the challenge of efficiently tracking waste quantities.

CircleAware’s focus on sustainable waste management and circular economy principles aims to create a lasting positive impact on the environment, economy, and society in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. Its innovative approaches and cross-border cooperation make it a valuable model for promoting circular economy initiatives in the region.