In the 14 years since its founding, Ekostar Pak has gained the trust of more than 840 companies, with in excess of 798,000 tons of packaging waste directed towards recycling during this period, says General Manager Bojana Perić
In this conversation with the lady at the helm of a company that’s considered a pioneer in the field of recycling, we discovered that this is a highly complex business requiring dedication, good organisation and continuous education efforts. Perić, who also serves as president of the Environmental Protection Alliance at NALED, additionally discussed collaborations with local governments, public utility companies, the future of packaging waste primary separation and more.
There is increasing talk about the managing of packaging waste, yet there is still little understanding of what this achieves. Can you explain the key problems that are addressed through this process?
— The efficient management of packaging waste reduces the amount of waste that ends up in nature, which is the most important factor.
The role of packaging waste management system operators should be viewed in the context of the circular economy, which is essential for the efficient use of resources and reducing the negative impact of waste on the environment. Therefore, companies that place packaging on the market in the Republic of Serbia need to be able to efficiently collect and recycle that waste, which they are also legally obliged to do. After packaging and distributing a product on the market, they are responsible for managing the packaging waste that remains after the product’s use.
This is precisely the area where Ekostar Pak is involved. At the same time, we make it easier for citizens to separate packaging waste by material type, as we cannot expect good results without this accessibility. By establishing a system of responsibility, we jointly ensure environmental protection, public health and the sustainable preservation of the ecological system from pollution.
Your company collaborates with 34 public utility companies. What forms the basis of this cooperation?
— Local governments play a crucial role in creating a community that manages waste responsibly, and we strive to involve municipalities from all regions, regardless of their size or the amount of waste they collect. We have significant partnerships in Trstenik, Sremska Mitrovica, Pančevo, Novi Pazar, Bečej, Gornji Milanovac, Svilajnac, Preševo, Subotica and other towns and cities.
By establishing a system of responsibility, we jointly ensure environmental protection, public health and the sustainable preservation of the ecological system from pollution
We provide equipment for the primary separation of packaging waste (containers, bins, vehicles, presses) for the needs of our partners and suppliers—utility companies—and expand our network of collaborators continuously. Local government units and their public utility companies tasked with collecting municipal packaging waste play a significant role in efficient waste management and increasing recycling rates. We thus continually improve waste management infrastructure throughout Serbia, as well as the process of collecting municipal packaging waste. We also expect several major investments by the end of this year.
Do you think Serbian citizens are aware of the importance of recycling? Has enough been done to develop environmental awareness?
— Ekostar Pak, as a national operator for packaging waste management, works continuously to raise environmental awareness among citizens and local governments.
It’s not surprising that citizens lack developed habits or sufficient information about recycling, given that Serbia is a country where 12% of the territory lacks municipal waste collection services, and there is insufficient coverage of recycling waste collection systems. Our mission is to make citizens and municipalities aware that packaging waste belongs in recycling, not in nature. To further enhance this message, we regularly provide proper information on sorting. That’s why we carry out various activities with local public utility companies, such as organised collections of packaging, distributing educational leaflets alongside utility bills and promoting recycling island locations. Special attention is paid to educating children about recycling, as this increases their responsibility towards the environment. That’s why we often organise educational workshops in preschools and schools. In our Eco-School project, children participate in eco-workshops, compete in collecting and sorting waste, and receive creative and innovative information about the recycling process.
In addition to actions with public utility companies and children’s workshops, you also organise other activities that contribute to environmental preservation…
— We are very proud of the results achieved since the beginning of this year. At the end of March, together with our friends and partners, we planted 2,024 seedlings as part of the Lungs of Belgrade reforestation action organised by the Discover Serbia association. We also supported the Clean Rivers project in raising awareness that waste does not belong in rivers. In the second quarter of this year alone, 65 hectares of water surfaces and 42 hectares of land were cleaned, resulting in more than 85 cubic metres of waste being removed.
We are committed to preserving traditions and supporting local events, because they aren’t just part of our culture, rather they are also a bridge that connects people and creates unity. While we strive for innovation, results that cannot be overlooked are yielded by our consistency and perseverance in supporting local communities. Our ability to combine modern approaches with traditional values strengthens our community.
We are committed to preserving traditions and supporting local events, because they aren’t just part of our culture, rather they are also a bridge that connects people and creates unity
We are also proud of our participation in sporting events, such as the Serbia Business Run – a business race that’s held in four cities in Serbia and has to date included the participation of more than 40,000 runners, as well as participation in this year’s Belgrade Marathon. We support local festivals that aim to educate visitors or simply sort waste at the event, as is done at the Circular Economy Festival and BITEF. I would also mention the EXIT Festival, where we have been an eco-partner for four years. I am pleased to highlight that four times as much packaging waste was collected at this year’s EXIT compared to the previous year’s festival.
There are also local and regional conferences that we participate in as panellists, sharing our knowledge and experiences, while helping to better understand the complex topics and challenges in this field. We support associations and individuals who organise local clean-up actions throughout the year, as we share a common goal.
How do you see the future of primary separation and recycling in Serbia?
— I believe we need comprehensive and systematic solutions in order for the development of citizen awareness to have practical applications. Our work involves a long and challenging process, but the results so far indicate that changes are evident. We will certainly continue to work on making these changes even more visible. It is important to understand that primary waste separation isn’t just a responsibility— it is an opportunity! An opportunity to reduce waste, preserve resources and protect our planet for future generations. Recycling is our path to a circular economy— an economy that cares for both people and the planet.