The implementation of the Coca-Cola project began with the action of cleaning both banks of the Drina in Višegrad, and the land part in the Bikavac settlement in Višegrad. From source to the sea in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through seven clean-up actions in the country, the project aims to encourage and promote education and strengthening of citizens' awareness of the importance of responsible disposal of packaging waste. Immediately before the cleaning operation, an event was held to officially mark the beginning of the project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was attended by representatives of institutions and organizations responsible for ecology, environment and water issues, representatives of local communities that supported the project, and representatives of partner companies - Konzum BiH and Mercator BiH, as well as the companies Ekopak and Euro Beta, which will be responsible for the collection of waste, as well as representatives of the media and citizens of Višegrad.
As a responsible corporate citizen, Coca-Cola continuously invests efforts in environmental protection. This is exactly one of the projects that is part of our global program World without waste, with which we want to directly contribute to reducing the impact on the environment and offer solutions to the challenges associated with packaging. We have set ourselves a specific goal to help collect and recycle every bottle or can we put on the market by 2030. Through actions within the From source to the sea we will remove packaging waste from the environment and thereby contribute to the cleaning of rivers and lakes, as well as the land parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. - said Dušan Mitrev, manager of the Coca-Cola HBC B-H Sarajevo sales department.
- I want to thank the Coca-Cola company and the people who participate in the implementation of this project, and all the municipalities and cities involved. I think this is a good example of how we can together provide better conditions, a healthier climate, a healthier environment, clean nature, because that's the only way we will all live in better conditions. I am very happy that we are in Višegrad today, that we are giving the deserved attention to Višegrad, Drina and Rzav, in Bikavac mentioned in songs, and especially because we have good hosts here. I am glad that Coca-Cola recognized the importance of this area and the preservation of these natural beauties and resources. Our determination at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina is to focus on environmental protection, not only because of our commitment to green policies and international agreements, but because every person in every part of the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina needs it. - said Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Staša Košarac.
Project From source to the sea in Bosnia and Herzegovina is implemented in cooperation with non-governmental organizations - Eco Center from Višegrad and CA Ruke from Sarajevo. Both organizations are recognized as significant in the field of environmental preservation and implementation of specific activities aimed at improving environmental protection..
- We are extremely glad that Coca-Cola started the project From source to the sea in Bosna and Herzegovina as well and that Višegrad was selected as the starting point of the project. Višegrad, and especially the Drina river, has been facing the problem of improper disposal of waste and pollution for years. We want and need to show everyone how to clean and love this city. I am also glad that many representatives of institutions are here today and I hope that with this action we will show how things should work on the ecological level. Thanks also to the large number of high school students who came to support our action. - said Dejan Furtula, representative of the non-governmental organization Eko centar from Višegrad, partner of the From source to the sea project.
The World without waste initiative directly contributes to reducing the impact on the environment and offers solutions to the challenges associated with packaging. The project From source to the sea started in Croatia in 2018, and from this year it is also implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project's activities are focused on cleaning actions, especially areas by the water — rivers and lakes from packaging waste, but not neglecting the land part, in order to encourage citizens to dispose of waste appropriately and preserve water resources.
Implementation of total of seven actions of waste collection all over BiH was planned for this year’s From source to the sea as follows: Višegrad, Rudo, Foča, Sarajevo, Tuzla, Bihać and Tomislavgrad.
So far, the project has been supported in partnership by: the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and Ecology of the Republika Srpska, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Republika Srpska, the Ministry of Municipal Economy, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection Sarajevo Canton, Ministry of Construction, Spatial Planning and Environmental Protection of Una-Sana Canton, Vode Srpska Public Institution, Adriatic Sea Water Area Agency, Municipality of Višegrad, City of Bihać, City of Tuzla, Municipality of Tomislavgrad, Municipality of Rudo, Municipality of Foča.
The partners of the project are the companies Ekopak and Euro Beta, which are in charge of organizing the collection of waste. In addition to partner non-governmental organizations and companies for separate collection and recycling of waste, the partners of the project are the companies Konzum BiH and Mercator BiH.
