Świętokrzyskie Region Advances Circular Economy Goals
On October 23, 2024, over 150 representatives from public administration and the business sector gathered at the Regional Cultural Centre in Kielce for a pivotal conference titled "TOGETHER WE CREATE ECOSWIĘTOKRZYSKIE - Local Governments on the Way to CIRCULAR ECONOMY - Opportunities and Threats" The event brought together key stakeholders, including local government officials, representatives from the Regional Inspectorate for Environmental Protection, the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Kielce, and entrepreneurs involved in Regional Waste Management Plants.
The conference aimed to address the opportunities and challenges that municipalities face in their transition toward a circular economy. The sessions focused on critical issues in municipal waste management, highlighting how a deposit system and extended producer responsibility impact local waste management frameworks. Experts also discussed public procurement and the role of a circular bioeconomy in driving the development of environmentally resilient municipalities.
A part of the event was the presentation by the Świętokrzyskie Region Marshal Office staff, who shared insights from the ongoing international "CORE" project. This initiative, under the INTERREG EUROPA 2021–2027 Programme, focuses on enhancing composting practices in rural areas. Through this project, Świętokrzyskie officials have been learning from successful composting models in other European regions and are now sharing these best practices with local municipalities to promote community-based composting solutions.
The conference served as both an awareness-raising platform and a knowledge-sharing opportunity, allowing attendees to explore actionable examples and innovative solutions from around Europe. The collaborative discussions fostered a greater understanding of circular economy principles and created a foundation of trust, essential for furthering local awareness and engagement in sustainable practices.
In essence, the "Together We Create EkoŚwiętokrzyskie" conference underscored the importance of local action, knowledge exchange, and partnership in achieving a sustainable, circular economy in the Świętokrzyskie Region.