In Berovo, a regional forum was held on the sustainable management of bio-waste in the Eastern planning region - a topic that sounds boring until you remember how much waste we create every day and how little of it ends up where it should.

The forum was organised by the „Green Institute“ association in partnership with the National Association of Private Forest Owners, with support from the Swiss government through the „Civica Mobilitas“ programme. Invited were mayors, directors of utility companies and representatives of all 11 municipalities of the Eastern region, as well as institutions, businesses and farmers.

The aim of the „Zero Bio-Waste“ project is clear - a transition to waste-free systems, less pollution, a lower risk of fires and more efficient utility services. The forum presented research on the quantities and composition of bio-waste from households, industry and agriculture, as well as technologies for its treatment and models of cooperation between municipalities and the private sector. The mayor of Berovo, Petar Ružinski, and a representative of the Ministry of the Environment opened the discussion.

The words are nice, and the presentations professional - but the real test comes afterwards. An assessment study has been announced that is meant to help the municipalities find financing and a practical model for managing bio-waste. The question, as always with projects like this, is whether the conclusions will turn into containers, composting sites and waste actually collected on the ground - or whether they'll stay yet another nicely framed report on a shelf, while the waste keeps piling up at the illegal dumps by the roadside. We'll be watching.