The City Administration of Novi Travnik and the company Vilenica Čistoća hosted a working meeting of utility companies from the Ekopak system, aimed at reviewing the achievements of 2024, exchanging experiences, strengthening cooperation, and improving the practice of selective disposal of packaging waste.

The meeting was organized as part of the regular activities of Ekopak, the first licensed operator of the packaging waste management system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which continuously works to connect and empower local stakeholders in the field of recycling and sustainable waste management.

In her opening remarks, Amela Hrbat, Director of Ekopak, emphasized the importance of strong cooperation between Ekopak and utility companies and praised Vilenica Čistoća as an example of best practices, noting that this public company ranks among the top performers in terms of the quantity of collected packaging waste from 2013 to 2024.

On behalf of the FBiH Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Mirsad Ibrović, Assistant to the Federal Minister, addressed the attendees and presented plans for a major Sustainable Waste Management project worth approximately BAM 120 million, to be implemented with the support of the World Bank, focusing on infrastructure development. He called on utility companies to prepare project documentation in a timely manner.

“The results achieved by Vilenica Čistoća show that even under limited conditions, significant accomplishments are possible when there is dedication, good organization, and cooperation. Ekopak remains a strong partner to utility companies in developing infrastructure and raising public awareness of the importance of recycling packaging waste,” said Hrbat.

The Director of Vilenica Čistoća, Svjetlana Tokalić, shared experiences and challenges faced in daily operations, while the Mayor of Novi Travnik, Stjepan Dujo, emphasized the need for better coordination across all levels of government to achieve more efficient results on the ground.

On the occasion of 10 years of cooperation, certificates of appreciation were awarded to PUC Bašbunar Travnik, ViK Kiseljak, and Kostajnica Kreševo.

At the end of the meeting, participants visited the facilities of Vilenica Čistoća.

Ekopak will continue organizing such meetings across the Federation of BiH, as we believe that through joint efforts, transparent communication, and exchange of experiences, the recycling system and environmental protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be further strengthened.