With ERDF-funding, a new selective waste collection system has been set up in the city of Sierpc, Poland. A marked decrease in waste has been recorded in the city’s air, water and soil.
New waste collection system for Sierpc
- 09 December 2015
This project is crucial for all the citizens of Sierpc, who now have full control over their waste management. There are no more wild garbage piles or waste burning in home furnaces. Recycling is now the norm and had led to a better protection of the region’s natural environment.
The project team set out to decrease the amount of waste stored directly on waste dumps, while at the same time increasing the number of secondary raw materials recycled from the waste stream. It did this by purchasing bags, bins and containers to encourage separate waste collection. It also ran an awareness raising campaign that promoted the advantages of this new way of collecting waste to the city’s residents.
14 different waste types
Specifically, the system aimed at separating 14 different kinds of waste: paper, metals, plastics, glass, multi-material packages, biodegradable communal wastes, expired products, chemicals, used batteries and accumulators, used electronic equipment, furniture and other large-size waste, building and demolition waste, used tires, green waste.
Equipment was purchased for the so-called community separate waste collection point (CSWCP) that housed a number of key items for separating waste including a 48m3 container; 13 internal bins for holding individual fractions; weighing scales to keep an eye on amounts of waste being collected; a monitoring system; 100 bins for both residential and public service areas; and separate waste collection bags for families.
Educational and promotional campaigns aimed at the general public were conducted on waste management topics. Various collateral were produced including posters and folders. A website dedicated to waste selection was also created.
Visible and tangible benefits
The project has given the residents of Sierpc the tools to manage their waste in an environmentally friendly manner, helping reducing the amount of pollution finding its way into the air, water and soil. It has resulted in visible and tangible benefits for the city’s residents, and has had a positive impact on the environment.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the “Development and implementation of a selective waste collection system, for waste generated by the city of Sierpc” project is EUR 64 328, of which the EU’s European Regional Development Fund is contributing EUR 24 977 from the Regional Operational Programme “Mazovia” for the 2007 to 2013 programming period