In May 2009, a number of environment protection acts were adopted in Serbia to regulate waste and packaging management. This legislation gave way to new opportunities for investment into processing and ecology industry in the country. The Green Serbia Conference, taking place in Belgrade on Wednesday, March 31st, included presentations of those companies of the Gorenje Group dealing with ecology.
Gorenje was the main sponsor of the conference organized by the company Business Info Group, with support by the Serbian Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning. The conference featured presentations of various projects in environment protection, waste management, recycling, energy efficiency, and financing of such projects.
Mr. Jure Fišer, head of Gorenje's waste management company Surovina, presented Gorenje's activities in ecology, as well as commented on the challenges and opportunities in the Serbian market: "The Serbian market shows high development potential for environment management, introduction of new technologies pursuant to the requirements of the IPPC Directive, and waste management requirements." Mrs. Vilma Fece, head of Environment Protection and Occupational Health and Safety at Gorenje, presented the system of comprehensive environment management at the Gorenje Group.
The conference, attended by around 160 representatives of local communities, government, state and local ecology funds, banks, public utility companies, and businesses, included successful presentation of seven Gorenje's companies dealing with ecology: Surovina, Kemis, Erico, Publicus, Zeos, EnviTech, and Econo. Two companies of the Gorenje Group have already taken their first steps into this segment to deal with market positioning: Kemis Valjevo which obtained a permit for hazardous waste management in Serbia last week, and EnviTech, a company for planning and consulting in ecology.
As of April 1st this year, Serbia introduced and ecology tax for electric and electronic equipment, batteries, accumulators, waste oil, and products containing asbestos. The amount of tax depends on the type and weight of the waste, and recycling costs. Tax for major appliances like cookers and refrigerators amounts to 30 Serbian dinars per kilogram of waste equipment; waste small appliances, vacuum cleaners, TV sets, and computers are charged 60 dinars per kilogram, and the charge for computer monitors is 90 dinars per kilogram. According to Eurostat, every EU citizen generated an average of 524 kilograms of municipal waste in 2008; in Slovenia, per capita waste generation was slightly lower at 459 kilograms. The highest figure was recorded in Denmark with 802 kilograms of waste per person, while Czech Republic was at the bottom of the table with 306 kilograms.