Joint cross-border initiatives for reduction of marine litter in Aegean and Black Sea (Seas without waste)

The project aims at contributing to the effectiveness of the measures taken by authorities to address the issue of marine litter, as common challenge in the environmental protection of the Black and Aegean Seas.
The activities planned within the project include investment works for waste cleaning of Vaya Lake flowing in Black sea and elimination of the landfill in the area of channel. Initial activities for development of separate waste management in Enez will be introduced also. A number of campaigns aiming at cleaning up marine litter and increasing public involvement in the problems of protecting the sea from pollution and improving the environment are envisaged.
Within the project a collection of good practices for waste management of wetlands and marine litter prevention, separate waste collection systems in European Union and Bulgaria, legislation and application of legislation will be presented.
The implementation of the project will identify the sources of marine litter in cross border areas and good waste management models will be transferred to good practice for better waste management and will decrease the urban pollution in wetlands in Black and Aegean seas.

Project status: Finished

Through project activities, the sources of pollution in the wetlands were identified, a landfill in the area of the Lake Vaya canal was eliminated and separate waste management containers were installed in Enez, which contributed to reducing urban pollution in the wetlands. In Burgas, an exchange of experience was organized between the partners for better waste management, nature protection and integration into society and business. Public awareness on the prevention of marine litter and the problems of protecting the seas from pollution has been increased through: A children's competition "What do you know about waste?" And an art exhibition with objects made by the children during the trainings were held in Enez; A pilot system for separate waste collection in Enez and the Green Telephone System was introduced and promoted. Project partners organized wetland cleaning campaigns at the cross-border region of both countries.