Good practice:

Introduction of an innovative model for reducing the amount of plastic waste in marine environment

To solve the problems related to the accumulation of plastic waste in the marine environment, the Municipality of Beloslav, in partnership with Ecoinvest Assets Inc., Green Industry, Innovation and Technology Transfer Foundation and the Norwegian consulting company International Development Norway AS, which will assist in the application of good practices from Norway and the introduction of a pilot model for reducing the amount of plastic household waste in the marine environment.
The target groups of the project are the local public and business, local and regional authorities, the media and non-governmental organizations working in the field of environmental protection.
The model is based on the good experience of Norway and is a combination of people, machines, platform and knowledge to create an alternative system for recycling and recovery of plastic waste, based on small initiatives at the local level, which are multiplied globally in the Precious Plastic system. Main activities are:
- Development of an innovative local system for plastic recycling in the municipality of Beloslav as part of the global system "Precious plastic"
- Conducting 4 information campaigns to raise awareness on the prevention of marine pollution with plastic waste.
- Educational campaign "Academy for Circular Economy" within which various trainings will be held.

143 629,96 EUR, of which the maximum amount of the grant is 134 708,87 EUR.

The evidence for success:
- The development and implementation of an alternative local system for recovery of plastic waste in the municipality of Beloslav within Precious Plastic network;
- Raised awareness among the local community about the pollution of marine waters with plastic waste through 4 campaigns within the project;
- Conducting an educational campaign "Academy of Circular Economics" in which various learning experiences will be applied, aiming at different target groups.

As a municipality located closely to the seacoast, Beloslav municipality experiences the negative effect of plastic pollution, especially in the marine environment. Increasing the profitability of recycling and reducing single-use plastic waste, is a severe problem that needs decisive measures.

This project is based on good practice from Norway: a model of an alternative plastic recycling system, which is implemented by local community residents who connect in a global system. The model is global, works locally, and has a plan to address the problem of marine water pollution with plastic waste. The model is a global network and has been introduced and successfully operated in 2 cities in Norway - Fredrikstad and Høvåg.
Much of the plastic waste in Norwegian waters and beaches is transported from other countries by ocean currents. So it is in Bulgaria and other coastal countries. Through the experience of Norvegian experts, the municipality of Beloslav will facilitate knowledge sharing and project collaboration, focusing on the circular economy, entrepreneurship, marine litter reduction and innovation.