The Association “Caroma Nord” has launched an awareness-raising campaign entitled “Get rid of waste; its place is not in your settlement!”, which is aimed at promoting the European environment protection values. It forms part of the project “Promotion of the European environment values in Moldova’s northern region” that is implemented with the financial support of USAID within the Moldova Civil Society Strengthening Program, carried out by FHI 360.

“Caroma Nord” executive director Rodica Frecautanu has told IPN that this campaign is aimed at heightening awareness of the advantages of selective waste collection and at developing a communication and partnership framework for implementing the selective waste collection system in the rural areas, promoting a pro-ecological attitude, reducing air, water and soil pollution by correctly managing waste and popularizing volunteering.

Rodica Frecautanu also said that the Association Agreement between Moldova and the EU contains provisions about the environment and “Caroma Nord” is familiarizing the people with these. It is about such simple methods as selective waste collection that is not used in Moldova.

“Caroma Nord” signed a cooperation protocol with the mayor’s office of Sangerei village of the district with the same name and with civil society organizations carrying our campaigns to inform the people about selective waste collection. The activities will be performed in March-September. The project will benefit the whole community and will involve the local authorities of the region, volunteers, representatives of NGOs, people and economic entities.

Silvia Turcanu, mayor of Chiscareni, Sangerei, where the project was launched, said that the village, together with another five settlements situated nearby, applied to a project by which they purchased a tractor that is used to collect waste. There were also bought garbage bins that will be placed in the villages. Within the campaign launched by “Caroma Nord”, a local NGO is staging information sessions on environment protection and waste management for grownups.

The campaign “Get rid of waste; its place is not in your settlement!” will end with a common event on the World Cleanup Day on September 23, which will be held simultaneously in 10 Moldovan settlements to urge the people to make a lifestyle of the protection of the environment.