Fostering use of renewable energy sources and waste to energy concept through targeted actions and raising of environmental awareness

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Although today, circular economy is an irreversible, global trend, much is still needed for the concept to take firm roots at the local and regional level in both Osijek - baranja and Baranya counties. Circularity has potential to open new business opportunities, give rise to new business models and strongly attribute to nature protection through activities such as reuse, recycling or use of renewable energy sources (RES). Another element vital for the transition is strong engagement of different stakeholders (public authorities, economic and social players, civil society) in order to foster partnership along sectors and value chains. Structured education for environment and introduction of circular economy concept at general population level should further foster rise of innovation and good practices. Through its previous projects, such as 2Regions2Sustain, Unikom began to explore the concept and introduce it to the citizens of City of Osijek and the County. At the same time, Pecs's ZOO, through two Hungarian national OPs, introduced RES for heating in its dwellings and founded Mecsek Natural Science Adventure Center and started to actively participate in the environment awareness rising. Wanting to further advance the concept of circular economy partners decided to expand use of RES, by introducing solar electrical plant capacity 75 kw at Pecs ZOO, and to turn wood component in bulk waste that Unikom collects (1.620 t) into potentially material for heating by installing wood processing line. However, both partners felt that there could be more impact on the area if comprehensive education for environment could be introduced and if full scale analysis of use of RES in Osijek's ZOO can be conducted. Thus, BMÖ, that has previous experience in crating cross-border educational programs (project I-Dare) and EU Centar that has an ample experience in promoting use of RES in CBC area (SUECH) joined the project proposal. BMÖ will coordinate making of educational programs for pre-school and school kids in cooperation with Unikom, an EU Centar will conduct RES study on Osijek's ZOO but will also coordinate 2 networking events of academics, SMEs, government players and NGOs on RES and circular economy in general. In 20 months of project duration partners, with BMÖ and Unikom coordinating activities on their side of the border, will also organize kids/children events in both ZOOs and organize cross-border field trips for school children to introduce them to circular economy and nature protection topics in easy to comprehend ways but also to expose them to life and people across the border. Such composition of partnership, and project activities directly contribute to objectives of both component and Programme, by enhancing institutional capacity for the use of RES and comprehensive education for environment in the same time involving different level of social and institutional actors and giving them platform to exchange experience.

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