On Friday, December 6, 2024, a panel and workshop titled “Business Sector for a Sustainable Split: How Local Action Can Lead to Systemic Change?” was held at the Technology Park Split, organized by Sunce. The event brought together representatives from local government, utility companies, the business sector, academia, and civil society to foster dialogue on sustainable waste management and implementation of a circular economy.

Brochure that gives voice to the environment

The panel began with a presentation on the Green Phone — a free tool for reporting environmental and nature-related issues. A new informational brochure was also introduced, providing detailed explanations on how citizens can report environmental problems and how their reports can drive changes within the system.

The presentation was delivered by Maja Jurić, Head of the Communication and Advocacy Department at Sunce, she highlighted that the Green Phone receives over 200 reports annually, a significant number of which relate to waste management. The brochure includes specific examples of reports that have led to positive changes, as well as tips for citizens on how to actively engage in environmental protection.

– Every report changes the system. Addressing the consequences of damage is always more difficult and expensive than preventing threats in time. This has also been recognized by The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, which has been funding our project for the second year in a row. This ongoing support allows us to make an even stronger contribution to environmental protection, – emphasized Jurić, urging all attendees to use this tool and thereby contribute to creating a more sustainable Split.

The brochure is available in digital form at the LINK.

We have a biostabilizer, but we need composting plants

The panel discussion that followed gathered distinguished participants, including Bojan Ivošević (Deputy Mayor of Split), Ivica Karoglan (Director of Čistoća), Tea Kuzmičić Rosandić (Sunce), Slađana Pavlinović Mršić (Faculty of Economics, Split), Mario Čulić (Restaurant Makarun) and Irina Salvezani (Split Apartments Salvezani) and was moderated by Maja Jurić (Sunce).

The discussion highlighted the key challenges and potentials of sustainable development in Split, with a particular focus on the possibilities for implementing sustainable models that could make the city an example of sustainability at all levels—from business operations to urban development and resource management. Ivica Karoglan emphasized the positive practices of Čistoća, such as the use of biostabilizers for waste processing. He also mentioned an innovative process for cracks that occur at Karepovac, for which expanding the process requires legislative support.

– We are the first in the Balkans with this technology. We want to use it for the cracks at the rehabilitated landfill at Karepovac, which occur due to rain and erosion, and we are seeking support from Sunce, – he said, emphasizing the need for legal changes so that this method of processing can be more widely applied.

On the other hand, Tea Kuzmičić Rosandić from the Sunce highlighted the lack of composting plants in the region as one of the obstacles to reducing waste that ends up in landfills.

– With the help of composting plants, we could significantly reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. A few years ago, it was said that composting plants would be built, so where are those composting plants now and what is the status of their implementation, – said Kuzmičić Rosandić.

– Apparently, a composting plant is being built in Kaštela, but neither the City of Split nor Čistoća has been informed about it, – added deputy mayor Ivošević, and stated that, unfortunately, recycling is currently more expensive than paying penalties for not separating waste.

We did not hear a concrete solution for reducing waste in landfills, but fortunately, we did hear an example of good practice where the business sector took matters into its own hands. Specifically, Mario Čulić from the Makarun restaurant shared examples of good practices in his business, including zero waste principles, using their own garden to grow vegetables, and applying traditional cuisine to reduce waste. However, he pointed out the challenges in collaborating with suppliers who are not focused on sustainability, emphasizing the need for synergy between different sectors.

Is a Plastic-Free Advent in Split Only on Paper?

The topic of banning single-use plastics at events in Split sparked a lengthy discussion. Prokurative, one of the central locations for Advent events in Split, once again faced criticism for using single-use plastic cups during the opening, despite a contractual ban. While Advent at Mertojak properly acquired reusable plastic cups on time, which also serve as great souvenirs, other concessionaires did not adhere to the agreement with the City.

Deputy mayor Bojan Ivošević said that they are probably just waiting for the delivery of reusable cups at Prokurative, and asked what Sunce proposes as a solution for the future.

Jurić made a proposal that future tenders must include penalty clauses for offenders in order to ensure accountability and compliance with contractual obligations, which the Deputy Mayor considered acceptable. Sunce urges citizens to pay attention to the types of cups and packaging used by caterers when visiting the Advent. Also, Sunce urges citizens and to record this by filling out a questionnaire, that can be found at the following link: LINK.

Circular economy as key to system change

In a world increasingly facing the consequences of overconsumption and the depletion of natural resources, recycling, although useful, must be seen as a last resort, not a solution. The real path lies in prevention – in systematically reducing waste, reusing, and using more rationally what we already have.

The principle of “reduce” is not just a technical goal, but a fundamental ethical principle that reminds us that change does not begin at the landfill, but in our everyday decisions. We need to address the root causes of the problem, rather than endlessly treating the consequences.

– The analysis of the secondary raw materials market in the Split-Dalmatia County revealed a devastating reality: such a market almost does not exist. As long as we continue to create waste faster than we can transform it into new values, we remain trapped in a system that is not sustainable. Only through a conscious paradigm shift can we build a society that will not burden future generations, but instead provide them with the opportunity to live in harmony with nature, – concluded Kuzmičić Rosandić.

In the second part of the event, a workshop was held as part of the AWASTER project. During the workshop, ideas and opinions were exchanged on the activities needed to promote the circular economy in the business world. The goal of the workshop is to contribute to the development of a joint Action Plan between Croatia and Italy. The plan will include measures for implementing sustainable practices in business operations.