On Sunday, April 20, 2008, the USAID Plastic Recycling Project, together with the City of Skopje, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and other partners, celebrated the Earth Day by organizing an open-air festival in the Skopje City Square.

The four-hour show drew almost 10,000 people and featured performances by children’s theater, dance and music groups, popular singers, clowns and entertainers. The activities of the “Global Recycling Village” were organized around one main theme – plastic recycling

U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Thomas Navratil, along with the Mayor of Skopje Trifun Kostovski and the Minister of the Environment Dzelil Bajrami, addressed the diverse audience of students, parents, project partners and government officials about the importance of plastic waste recycling for present and future generations in Macedonia. The $1.2 million Plastic Recycling project works with local governments, public and private companies and schools to raise awareness about protecting the environment and to  build partnerships for a sustainable nationwide recycling program.

The first results are impressive – the amount of collected bottles doubled from 1500 tons in 2006 to approximately 3000 in 2007. Generated exports from bailed or processed plastic bottles add up to approximately $1.6 million, and employment in the recycling industry has increased 60 percent from 2006 to 2007. This is just the beginning. The project is now entering its second phase, expanding from four to eight municipalities, with the ultimate goal of reaching 12 municipalties across Macedonia.

Perhaps, the most encouraging sign that environmental protection is taking root in Macedonia is the role and enthusiasm of children. The project promotes Recycling Clubs in primary schools, where students organize neighborhood clean-up actions, community events and other outreach programs to educate their peers, neighbors and families about recycling.

Recycling Club members came to the Earth Day Festival from all over Macedonia to showcase their activities, share successes and inspire other students to open recycling clubs in their schools. The enthusiasm and excitement of the children was contagious, and so was their creativity during numerous performances and contests. During the event, Mr. Navratil and his family presented the winner of the Plastic Recycling Poster Award Margarita Bobaroska with a check for 12,000 MKD (sponsored by the Ohridsky Bank).

The event received broad media coverage and was featured on the front page of the major national daily Dnevnik. Please see the event image gallery below.