Volunteers Gathered 5,500 Tons of Waste from 300 Illegal Landfills in BiH

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In the action organized under the auspices of the global campaign „World Cleanup 2012: Let’s Clean the World Together”, organized last Sunday, September 9, 2012, by the “Ruke” (Hands) association, more than 37,000 volunteers in Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered 5,500 tons of waste from illegal landfills.

Božidar Mihajlović, president of “Ruke” Association, said that it was the biggest cleaning action in the history of BiH and added that it covered 300 illegal landfills.

Illegal landfill at Raškovac (photo Buka.com)

"In the action, tens of thousands of young people chose to rise over nationalist politics and divisions and do something for their cities and the state. This is a message to the young people to start believing in the impossible, which can be achieved if we try”, he said.

Mihajlović praised the municipalities of Široki Brijeh, Odžak, Grude, Kakanj, Visoko, Prijedor, Eastern Sarajevo, Vareš and Goražde for their excellent turnout and quantities of collected waste.

Federal minister of environment and tourism Branka Đurić noted that this was a great action and emphasized that the young people worked together and cooperated on the project. The pledged Ministry’s assistance and support for all similar future actions.

The Director of the Environmental Protection Fund of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Safet Harbinja emphasized the symbiosis of government institutions and local communities that was needed to ensure the success of the action and added that such actions served a message that things can turn for the better, for better and different future.

"The strengthening awareness about waste disposal will help us achieve progress on that issue in BiH and promote better care about our everyday waste disposal practices”, Harbinja said.

The action was financially supported by HT Eronet telecommunications company. Cleanup actions will be repeated next spring. (Source: Fena/AbrašMedija)