The USAID Plastic Recycling Project joins local partners to celebrate the Earth Day in Macedonia On Friday 18 April 2008, the USAID Plastic Recycling Project held a press conference to promote the Earth Day Festival on April 20th at the Skopje City Square, and to inform the public about project accomplishments to-date. The festival is being co-sponsored by the City of Skopje, Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, and the public company “Komunalna Higiena.” During the press conference, Trifun Kostovski, the Mayor of Skopje and Marcia Wong, the Director of the USAID Economic Growth Office, reiterated the need for strong partnerships between all stakeholders involved in the implementation of a sustinable enviromental protection program in Macedonia.
“Environmental protection is extremely important for Macedonia as it positions itself to become a valuable member of the EU community,” said Ms. Wong. “I’m very pleased to see that Macedonian public, government institutions and the media are joining global intiatives to protect our planet and support a cleaner, healthier enviroment by collecting and recycling of plastic waste.” The $1.2 million Plastic Recycling Project is implemented by MDC TI-NET in partnership with the municipalities of Karpos, Gostivar, Kocani and Strumica, as well as public and private waste management companies and NGOs. To-date, USAID has invested almost $500,000 in project activities, including initiating plastic waste collection programs in pilot municipalities, establishing Recycling Clubs in primary schools, equipping Ecological Islands with plastic collection equipment, and supporting eight recycling companies to purchase equipment. Currently, the project is expanding to eight additional municipalities.
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