This process has many advantages, including protection of the environment, preservation of the natural resources and creation of new jobs. Among the most popular recycled materials are the metals, paper and plastics.
The use of plastics has contributed to the preservation of other natural resources. The plastics in many instances can replace cardboard packaging, thus contributing to the preservation of forests. Furthermore, due to their light weight, they require less fuel and energy for transportation.
However, the plastics are a highly visible type of waste and they are detrimental to the soil and environment. The elimination, or more preferably the reuse through recycling, would contribute to the cleaner and friendlier environment.
The mission of the USAID sponsored Plastic Recycling Project, implemented by MDC-TI.NET, is to establish an efficient and economically viable PET (polyethylene terephthalate) recycling program implemented in Macedonia.
This project is a continuation of a previously implemented pilot project, which included a sub-grant program for competitively selected firms and organizations. The pilot project has helped in the collection and recycling of close to 1.500 tons of PET waste for a one year period.
Moving to the next stage, the priority is set to the enhancing of the collection and recycling activity and expanding it throughout the country. The focus is placed on the importance of this activity for the community, and the importance that all of the stakeholders be involved.
This project is about collecting, baling, transporting, cutting, processing, marketing and selling PET recyclable waste. It is also about networking and involving all stakeholders in the process of reducing waste. The key of the approach in this project is the development of an economically viable PET litter-recycling program.
The objectives of the Plastic Recycling Project are defined as follows:
- Strengthen the current PET collection activities and expand the activities throughout Macedonia
- Introduce/facilitate a higher value added PET recycler on the market;
- Increase public awareness;
- Provide grounds for sustainability of the PET recycling in Macedonia .
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