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Description
The assumptions and objectives of the project are fully reflected in the provisions of program and strategic documents, as well as Community and national legislation, such as: Resolutions of the City Council, Regional Strategic Programs, National Economy Plans, EU strategy. The "Sztum Circular Economy" project solves local and international problems through dedicated local investments and extensive and innovative sets of project soft measures.
Presented concept and partner involvement guarantee directly influence of all four stages of the circular economy processes through the joint operation of two designed facilities, with dedicated educational and information actions supported by a number of communication and promotional activities.
Solving local and international problems: -improvement of skills and quality in management of circular economy -creating durability of solutions based on investment -promoting circular economy.
Inhabitants of the city and commune of Sztum and surrounding, project partners and international entities operating in the environmental protection, waste management and counteracting climate change.
The scope of IDN''s offer in the project includes the exchange of experience, knowledge and best practices at the management level and experts provided by IDN, related to the entrepreneurial and environmental dimension of the project, with an emphasis on three areas: - Entrepreneurship - Circular economy - Support for the role of local governments in implementing circular economy.
Summary of project results
The main challenge of the project was the need to effectively solve society''s environmental problems related to rational waste management, sustainable use of natural resources, as well as improvement of the conditions and quality of life of residents. The implementation of the project was a response to the needs of the community related to easier access to modern municipal waste collection infrastructure and an innovative offer of eco-education and knowledge transfer based on specialized staff and tools, which would translate into a change in social attitudes in the field of rational waste management and sustainable use of natural resources. The main problem that the project was supposed to solve was increasing the level of recycling and preparation for re-use of municipal waste fractions and reducing the number of illegal landfills.
The project Sztum circular economy - a response to today’s climate challenges, was implemented in the period from May 10, 2022 to April 30, 2024 in partnership of the City and Commune of Sztum with the Association of Municipalities of the Republic of Poland Euroregion Baltic, the Gdansk University of Technology and the Norwegian partner - International Development Norway. The project consisted of 28 tasks, including investment tasks and educational and promotional tasks. The main assumption of the project was to create a new, integrated program that would support the implementation of the circular economy at the local level. The main investment of the project was the creation of a Selective Municipal Waste Collection Point for the Sztum commune and a repair, storage and exhibition hall in which the "Second Chance" circular station was established. Other measures included a number of solutions that enable the implementation of best practices in circular economy processes, by creating an educational offer for the widest possible group of society, both adults, as well as children and youth. The project contributed to spreading the idea of closing the waste cycle in the region and internationally through a series of seminars and international conferences.
As part of investment activities supporting the potential related to rational management of municipal waste, a modern Municipal Waste Selective Collection Point and a repair, storage and exhibition hall were built, where the "Second Chance" circular station is run. Each resident of the Sztum commune may return any problematic waste to the Selective Municipal Waste Collection Point as part of the waste management fee, including rubble and other construction waste, chemicals or medical waste. The Selective Municipal Waste Collection Point has been equipped with the necessary containers and containers, thanks to which it is possible to segregate waste into many fractions, which are then sent for recycling and recovery.
However, items that can be given a second life go to the social and circular Material Station "Second Chance". This place also serves as a repair point where each resident, under the supervision of a person employed there, the so-called A handyman can independently make minor repairs in order to give a "new life" to used items, which will prevent them from ending up in a landfill. The station is equipped with the necessary tools and devices that can be used to repair and renovate used items. The station includes a woodworking station, a metal processing station, a tailoring station, a household appliances station, and a bicycle repair station.
There is also an exhibition area in the hall, where used items, such as furniture, toys and everyday items, are waiting for their new owners. The circular station also serves as a meeting place and a place for conducting workshops on repair, restoration and renovation and giving second life to used items. As part of the project, a series of workshops for residents was held, in which local associations and organizations were involved.
During tailoring workshops, beds for homeless animals were sewn using used sweaters and blankets. During bicycle workshops, participants could learn how
repair your bike at home according to the "zero waste" principle. For the needs of the Material Station, an ecological, electric delivery car was also purchased, which collects unnecessary but still usable items from residents.
The implementation of the investment component was extremely important because the Sztum Commune did not yet have appropriate infrastructure that would be able to meet the challenges related to the growing amount of waste and its proper segregation. However, infrastructure alone is not enough, so a number of educational activities were carried out together with project partners and promoting the idea of a circular economy, showing residents a new approach to waste, but also teaching, especially children and young people, how much depends on our everyday decisions and choices.
Eco-education was conducted with the substantive support of the teaching staff of the Gdansk University of Technology. As part of the project, a series of ecological seminars was held, during which students from schools in Sztum worked on creating climate agendas, which are a set of rules for a pro-ecological lifestyle and the functioning of an entity such as a school. An innovative form of education was the participation of young people in SferaLab workshops, organized in the Elblag Technology Park, where students took part in practical learning about the effects of climate change by performing experiments as part of laboratory activities.
In order to reach the widest possible group of society, both adults and children and youth, with a modern and innovative eco-education offer, two editions of the Day were organized. with Climate, which took place during the Sztum Land Days in 2022 and 2023. For this purpose, an atmospheric corner was created in the city park in Sztum, where many attractions awaited participants, such as "open-air" lectures, "zero waste" culinary workshops, and a "second life" exchange point. As part of the Days with Climate, two art competitions were held on topics related to climate protection. Day with Climate also includes bicycle rallies and field games - all in the spirit of the idea of a circular economy.
As part of the promotion of best practices related to circular economy, Bombajka was created - a local publication addressed to children and youth, referring to issues related to ecology, whose main character is a frog - the mascot of Sztum. The book was widely promoted in educational institutions and all events organized as part of the project.
The Sztum circular economy project is also a mutual exchange of experiences at the local level and international. This purpose was served by activities carried out by the foreign partner - International Development Norway, as well as the Association of Municipalities of the Republic of Poland Euroregion Baltic. Thanks to IDN, it was possible to participate in a study visit to Norway and thematic webinars, during which participants could find out how our Scandinavian neighbors deal with the waste problem.
An innovative form of working with young people proposed by IDN were workshops conducted in the hackathon formula entitled "Norwegian circular school challenge - closing the loop!" Students, during a two-day meeting, under the supervision of moderators from the Norwegian non-governmental organization Ungt Entreprenørskap, worked on ideas for actions to reduce the negative impact of human activity on environmental losses. Workshop participants presented the proposed solutions in the form of compact presentations, which were assessed by the jury.
As part of the project, a Compendium of investments in circular economy processes and Books of good Polish and Norwegian practices were also created. The main goal of the Compendium is to provide guidelines on how to reduce the impact of public sector consumption on the environment
natural resources and the use of green public procurement to implement innovations in environmental technologies, products and services. In turn, the Book of Good Polish Practices and the Book of Good Norwegian Practices is a summary of the most interesting, inspiring, as well as practical activities and measures implemented by Polish and Norwegian municipalities and non-governmental organizations to promote elements of circular economy processes among residents.
The exchange of good practices in the field of circular economy was also possible within the Task Force established by the Association of Municipalities of the Republic of Poland Euroregion Baltic, which is a platform for exchanging experiences, discussing and creating innovative solutions in the field of circular economy, energy, blue and green growth and adaptation to changes. climate, bringing together representatives of science, as well as the public and social sectors, both from Poland and from Denmark, Sweden and Hungary.
The project idea was widely promoted via the websites of the project leader and partners, as well as in local and social media. Conferences were also organized as a form of promoting the project - opening and closing the project and an international conference, with the participation of representatives of local and regional self-government authorities, non-governmental organizations, guests from Poland and abroad, as well as media representatives.
The implementation of the project contributed to the creation of lasting conditions for activities in the field of the circular economy. Thanks implementation of the project in partnership allowed the transfer of knowledge and good practices as well as the exchange of experiences on a local scale and international. By implementing project tasks of various nature and form, it was possible to increase capabilities human resources potential in the field of the circular economy, which will be used in the future. Design is also stimulation social activity and increasing the level of knowledge related to rational waste management. Thanks to the implementation of actions design projects, it was possible to reach young people, but also entire families, with the educational offer. Both the Beneficiary and partners project, they gained valuable experience that will be used in the future to implement similar activities and projects in the field circular economy. The existing infrastructure in the form of the Point will also be used for this purpose Selective Municipal Waste Collection and the "Second Chance" circular station, where, among others, workshop and educational room. The implementation of the project, as well as the experience gained during this time, will definitely contribute to an increase in recycling levels, also reusing waste and giving new life to used items.
Summary of bilateral results
Thanks to the participation of a partner from a donor country, mutual exchange of experience and knowledge in the field of circular economy was possible. The Norwegian partner carried out creative and modern activities in the project (hackathon workshops, thematic webinars). He also organized a trip to Norway, during which participants could learn about waste management in this country. In addition, the Book of Norwegian Good Practices was created as a summary of the most interesting, inspiring, as well as practical activities and measures implemented by Norwegian municipalities and non-governmental organizations to promote elements of circular economy processes among residents. Bilateral cooperation may be continued, but as of today there are no specific details of this cooperation.