On December 17th, 2024, the Municipal Bio-Waste Management Conference was held at the Science and Technology Park Montenegro under the theme Municipal Bio-Waste Managment “From Community Initiatives to Systemic Changes.” Organized by Zero Waste Montenegro, the event brought together experts, local stakeholders, and public officials to discuss the future of biowaste management in Montenegro and explore how community-driven initiatives can contribute to systemic environmental solutions.
The conference began with opening remarks from Vanja Cicmil, Executive Director of Zero Waste Montenegro, who introduced the Fork to Farm project and emphasized the importance of sustainable biowaste practices in achieving a circular economy and addressing climate change.
European Insights: Biowaste Goals and Climate Impacts
Enzo Favoino, Chair of the Scientific Committee of Zero Waste Europe, delivered the keynote presentation on the best practices and EU drivers for biowaste management. Subsequently, Favoino presented the upcoming EU requirements; in addition, he offered insights into how municipalities can adopt innovative approaches to align with these standards.
This was followed by Jack McQibban Head of Local Zero Waste Implementation, also from Zero Waste Europe, who addressed the issue of methane emissions in the waste sector. In addition, McQibban’s presentation highlighted the significant role biowaste management plays in tackling climate change and, above all, the urgency of reducing methane emissions as part of a broader climate strategy.
Case Study: Kotor’s Composting Facility
A case study presentation by Jelena Radunović Coordinator of Technical-Operational Affairs Sector Public Utility Company “Komunalno Kotor” presented the operations of Kotor’s composting facility. Radunović explained how the facility has reduced biowaste and provided a model that can be replicated in Montenegro. The case study served as a practical example of how local solutions can address national challenges in waste management.
Results of the Fork to Farm Project
Dragana Vujisić, Project Manager at Zero Waste Montenegro, presented the results of the Fork to Farm project, focusing on three municipal initiatives implemented in Montenegro. She detailed the study’s outcomes and how its findings could pave the way for composting initiatives across the country. In addition, Vujisić highlighted the environmental and economic benefits these projects could bring to Montenegrin municipalities.
Looking Ahead: A Roadmap for Biowaste Management
The conference concluded with a Q&A session summarising the key takeaways and called for collaborative efforts to advance sustainable biowaste management solutions in Montenegro.
Key insights from the interactive polling session:
Are there any composting initiatives in your municipality?
- Composting initiatives in municipalities do not exsist: 52%
- Composting initiatives in municipalities exist 17%
- Participants are unsure if there are any composting initiatives in their municipality: 30%
What method of organic waste management do you believe is best for your municipality?
- Backyard composting 43%
- Community composting 30%
- Municipal composting 26%
%
said they were interested to implement composting activities in their municipality
%
said that they were not aware or unsure of composting initiatives in their municipalities
Participants were asked what type of support they needed most to begin composting initiatives in their municipalities. They identified education, financial assistance, expert guidance, and resources for operationalizing their efforts as key priorities. By the end of the day, participants had a clearer understanding of how both local and systemic changes can contribute to environmental sustainability, thanks to the knowledge shared during the discussions.