AWASTER – Adopting WASTE as Resource

The impact of increasing waste production, particularly plastic, implies negative ecological and socio-economic impacts. It contributes to the overconsumption of natural resources and is a source of pollution for soil and water, which increases the ecological footprint of economic activities. The project targets organizations based in areas where coastal tourism is a key or significant economic activity, which is highly impacted by the generation of a significant amount of waste, of which a part ends uncontrolled in the Adriatic Sea. This is a crossborders issue, and it cannot be effectively mitigated by the actions implemented solely on west or east Adriatic coastline. This is why it is essential to develop a common approach in all included regions but also work to disseminate it to other concerned areas in both countries.

The project is composed by six partners: the lead partner IRENA – Istrian Regional Energy Agency and Association for Nature, Environment, and Sustainable Development Sunce, SINLOC SPA, GAL Eastern Venice, Municipality of Casarano and Local Action Group LAG 5

The project will contribute to minimize waste generation by improving the consumer, focusing on younger population, and economy sector knowledge base on waste collection managing, promotion of recycling and waste reuse, thus contributing to the protection of biodiversity and fight against pollution.
The partners will jointly develop and implement Action Plan and innovative training scheme aiming to foster the sustainable use of resources and promote adoption of CE principles through the organisation of workshops, trainings and testing innovative solutions on reusing the collected waste and promoting low resource economy schemes by implementing two Joint Pilot Actions.