Skopje, 7 July 2023 (MIA) - The association for management of packaging and packaging waste published the results of their efforts within the organized environmental protection for 2022, according to which Pakomak member-companies reported 47,705 tons of packaging waste, of which 27,521 or 57.7 percent were recycled.

In accordance with the law on waste management, Pakomak did not only meet but exceed the national goals.

"In addition to the regular and continued infrastructure investments for waste disposal, we want to highlight the investment in 30 new reverse vending machines for packaging waste, used as a way to encourage the population to select plastic bottles and cans. Together with our partners we organized the Sound of Green festival, where almost four containers of plastic bottles and cans, or 4,000 pieces of packaging waste, were collected, which the attendees took with them as an entrance ticket," said the company.

Executive director Filip Ivanovski said Pakomak will continue to invest in communal infrastructure, because in some municipalities there is still a lack of communal waste containers, and that there are no containers for selective waste collection.

"Our goal is further cooperation with local governments so there is at least one packaging waste container in different locations, primarily for, paper, cans, and glass, as well as to provide specialized vehicles for its management. Additionally, we will install new vending machines. The role of citizens, their determination, awareness of the importance of sorting waste, should not be overlooked. Utility companies, as the only authorized collectors of selected waste, must be more efficient and must frequently empty the trash containers," Ivanovski said.

He added that the practice of selecting and recycling packaging waste is something that should be worked on continuously.

Photo: Pakomak