The minister of environmental protection and green transition, Marija Vučković, and the director of the Fund, Luka Balen, handed over the contract worth almost nine million euros in grants to the president of the Management Board of the Regional Waste Management Centre, Josip Grgić, for the construction of transfer stations that will be built as part of RWMC Šagulje.
"The 9 out of a total of 12.86 million euros were provided by the Government of the Republic of Croatia from European funds through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The transfer stations that are going to be built will allow for a more efficient collection and transport of waste, which will further reduce costs and negative impacts on the environment. This project includes the construction of five transfer stations in Slavonski Brod, Kutina, Novska, Pakrac and Požega respecitvely, which will contribute to the efficient operation of the future Centre," said minister Vučković. In accordance with the Waste Management Plan of the Republic of Croatia for the period 2023-2028, the Regional Waste Management Centre Šagulje covers the area of four counties: Brod-Posavina, Požega-Slavonia, Virovitica-Podravina and the greater part of Sisak-Moslavina County. There are as many as 70 local self-government units with, according to the last census, almost 395 thousand inhabitants or about 150 thousand households.
"In cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition, the Fund enables local self-government units to obtain funds through public calls to fit out municipal equipment and thus further raise the level of utility services for our citizens. Over the last several years, over half a billion euros were invested in the waste management system, and today's contract shows that we are still moving in that direction. We are aware that when it comes to waste management centres in particular, they can hardly be built without the help of the state. And that is why the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition, and the Fund are here to help in accordance with the possibilities so that an efficient, optimal and environmentally sustainable waste management system can really take root across Croatia," said Director Balen.
President of the Management Board of RWMC Šagulje Josip Grgić said that this contract was a big step forward in actually bringing the entire project of building the centre to life. "The project documentation necessary for the construction of the regional centre Šagulje has been prepared, and it should be completed by the end of 2028. In addition to the EU funds, part of the financing for its construction was also provided through the Environmental Protection Fund," said Grgić.
The main topic was air quality in Slavonski Brod. Minister Vučković announced the greatest breakthrough so far in providing a tangible solution to this problem – investments in PV heating plants. The main objective is to reduce the number of households that are heated with wood. The initial incentives will amount to 10 million euros, and citizens will be able to withdraw up to 80 percent of the funds for their investments in retrofitting their heating system. This announcement was also welcomed by the president of the County Assembly, Pero Ćosić, who emphasised that it was important to take any possible steps to increase the quality of life of all citizens of Slavonski Brod and the surrounding areas.
