Marine litter reduction in Municipality of Primorsko

Project facts

Project promoter:
Primorsko Municipality(BG)
Project Number:
BG-ENVIRONMENT-0003
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€133,426
Final project cost:
€113,032
Other Project Partners
PRIM-LAN LTD(BG)

Description

The purpose of the project was to reduce the amount of marine waste in the water areas adjacent to Primorsko Municipality by removing floating objects from the sea surface using innovative technologies.

The Municipality undertook three initiatives for pollution prevention. One of the courses of actions was dedicated to the educational campaigns. A leaflet was published and spread out which aim to draw the attention of the fishermen, small boat owners, representatives in the tourism sector, hotel and restaurant owners.

To engage the community, a contract for education materials preparation and 3 students’ open lessons was signed. Different age groups and all students in 5th-11th grade from High school “Nikola Vaptsarov” were able to participate in those lessons bringing awareness about the different kinds of waste, the pollution sources and possible actions towards pollution prevention. The project included also a preparation of web page on the official website of the Municipality Primorsko with information in Bulgarian and English. This ensured that the mass awareness about the project’s goal is achieved.

Moreover, the project run by Primorsko Municiaplity in partnership with the Bulgarian Prim-Lan Ltd. planned the installation of three units for active collection of floating marine waste at the port, the municipal litter bins at the port and the fishing pier were replaced, the waste collection points at two beaches were upgraded and modernized, and volunteer beach clean-up campaigns were initiated. A feasibility study was conducted which was aiming to identify the good practices and technology by taking an example from the other Member States and the Donor States to implement according the specific conditions of the Bulgarian Black the necessary measures for marine pollution reduction. This accelerate the process of building an eco-friendlier and self-aware society.

 

More information about the project could be found here:

https://primorsko.bg/

 

Summary of project results

 The project aimed to address the challenges of finding solutions in respect of three levels of the solid waste pollution cycle: to improve the awareness and the prevention of generation and unregulated disposal of marine waste, preventing the transfer of land-based waste into the marine environment and cleaning of the sea surface from floating waste through the application of innovative technologies.

The project aims at reducing the marine litter from the shore and small vessels. The project engaged the citizens by intoducing for example education campaign which the schools from Primorsko took part in as well as a volunteer shore cleaning campaign was organised. Moreover, a pilot local initiative to reduce the pollution of marine environment from the shore was launched. 

Other prohjevt activities wh9och were implemented were the study of the best practices and feasibility assessment; the introduction of innovative marine waste collection technology - installation of at least 3 units for active collection of floating marine waste at the port of Primorsko, training of personnel and maintenance; creating conditions and encouraging the collection of marine waste from vessels and ports - replacing the municipal waste collection bins at the port and fishing pier, and installing information boards; improvement of the conditions for waste collection from the beaches by upgrading of the dedicated points for waste collection from North Beach and South Beach of Primorsko; involvement of stakeholders in the prevention of marine pollution - training seminar for representatives of specific stakeholder groups  and ensuring public information and publicity.

One of the project outcomes was the introduction of three innovative gadgets for active marine waste collection were installed as well as 15 waste collection instruments were delivered in the Municiaplity of Primorsko. Launching a pilot local initiative to reduce the pollution of marine environment from the shore, as well as  experience of donor countries related to local policies and practical solutions for the prevention of marine liter and good practices were exchanged. 

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.