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2013 Waste Management
By Jenny Upton, MAK 17 President of the Environmental Working Group
The Apollonia Foundation hosted a Waste Management Conference May 17 th, in conjunction with Peace Corps’ Environmental Working Group and Ajde Makedonija, a non-profit organization committed to environmental change in Macedonia.
Held at the Apollonia Hotel and Casino in Gevgelija, the conference focused on the topics of effective recycling techniques, new approaches to landfill designs, and the importance of implementing waste management strategies in various communities. Over 30 people from all over Macedonia attended the conference, many of them from opstinas and non-governmental organizations, as well as the private sector.
The first session of the conference included a panelist discussion on waste management techniques that the presenters had implemented in their respective areas. Panelists included Mr. Marjan Kelemen from the Municipality of Aerodrom; Ms. Biljana Stevanovska from the Center for Sustainable Development; and an impromptu guest, Mr. Zlatko Risteski from the Public Utility Company“ Komunalec” Prilep. The moderator was Ivana Tomovska of Peace Corps. After the panelist discussion, the conference attendees broke into three groups to brainstorm effective waste management strategies that could be implemented in their communities.
The second session followed after a lunch at Apollonia’ s Motel Vardar, located along the
picturesque Vardar River. The attendees discussed the panelists’ views over a buffet provided by Apollonia Foundation, and then reconvened to share the various strategies they had developed in the previous session. One of the most controversial topics debated was whether or not a“ clean landfill” can exist in Macedonia. Upon completion of the second session, members of the conference were asked to fill out a questionnaire on how they will implement strategies at their respective sites, and what topics should be discussed at next year’ s conference.
This is the Environmental Working Group’ s second Waste Management Conference since its founding as a Peace Corps committee. Plans are underway to provide citizens of Macedonia conferences on the topics of green architecture and sustainable agriculture in the coming year. The Environmental Working Group would like to thank Apollonia Foundation and Ajde Makedonija for making this conference a success.
28 – Pauza Magazine