AWASTER project for clean Adriatic Sea
From education to transformation
The Adriatic Sea is facing serious challenges due to the increasing amount of marine litter that threatens marine life and the preservation of its natural beauty. Data shows that the amount of marine litter is increasing, which requires urgent action. However, did you know that up to 80% of marine litter originates from land?
Lack of awareness about waste management is present at all levels of society, jeopardizing the achievement of EU goals regarding sustainable waste management. Through unsystematic waste management and the application of outdated linear production and consumption models, where items are improperly discarded after single use, we seriously harm the environment, climate and the health of every individual. Six partners from Croatia and Italy have recognized the importance of strengthening existing knowledge bases on waste management at educational and professional levels, including promoting environmental awareness from an early age, and have begun implementing the AWASTER project (Adopting WASTE as Resource).
The project lead partner IRENA - Istrian Regional Energy Agency and partners Association for Nature, Environment, and Sustainable Development Sunce, SINLOC SPA, LAG Eastern Venice, Municipality of Casarano and Local Action Group LAG 5 have joined forces to address marine litter issues along the Adriatic coast as part of the AWASTER project. The project is funded by the cross-border cooperation program 'Interreg Italy-Croatia 2021-2027', and it will be implemented in the coastal areas of Croatia and Italy till the end of August 2026.
The overall objective is to reduce waste production by promoting and advocating for the principles of circular economy through educational programs and courses, as well as through cross-border exchange of knowledge and experiences involving elementary and high-school students and stakeholders from the economic sector The partners will carry out a series of activities to promote the early adoption of circular economy principles and sustainability. The plan is to develop guidelines for decision-makers and a joint Strategy and Action Plan, as well as a catalogue of best practices with circular economy principles for the economic sector to promote efficient resource use.
The educational activities of the project, in addition to organizing training in schools, cleaning actions and practical workshops with students, also include workshops for representatives of the economic sector, especially from tourism, hospitality and the processing industry. At the end of April, IRENA - Istrian Regional Energy Agency, as the lead partner of the AWASTER project, actively participated in the organization of the Academy of Sustainable Tourism, an educational program designed to provide small entrepreneurs, private landlords and family farms with concrete knowledge and experience on integrating sustainability into their daily business. The five-day program of the Academy covered key topics in the field of sustainable tourism through carefully designed thematic modules. IRENA, within the framework of the implementation of the AWASTER project, provided support for a module dedicated to the sustainable use of resources. Within this module, participants had the opportunity to learn about the following topics: Zero waste concept, plastic-free practices, energy saving, promotion and protection of drinking water and waste reduction and better utilization of generated waste (e.g. composting). This initiative highlights the commitment of IRENA and the AWASTER project to promoting sustainable practices in the tourism sector, offering practical solutions to reduce the ecological footprint and encourage responsible business.
The AWASTER project brings specific steps towards cleaner sea and coastline at the regional level. Collaboration between regions in Croatia and Italy will be crucial for successfully addressing the challenges of marine litter in the Adriatic. For more info, visit: www.italy-croatia.eu/web/awaster
