Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
Еnvironmental management <br>Bulgarian-Dutch project "Greener Bourgas" (1997-1999)
Municipality of Bourgas
Background
The Greener Bourgas Project consisted of four sub-projects: Environmental Monitoring , Environmental Management , and Waste Management , Public Participation and Environmental Education . The project implementation was directed towards introducing the following important principles for environmental management: 1. The parameters of the environment should be carefully monitored and effectively controlled. That would ensure objective information about the environmental situation, based on which future work priorities could be defined. 2. Local authorities and business establishments should support and adopt environmental management and the pollution prevention concept. 3. Developing and executing an integrated system for waste management should decrease risks for citizens` health, as well as for the environment. 4. Society should be well informed not only about the current environmental situation, but also about the part each community member should take in improving the state of the environment. 5. Local non-governmental organizations should actively participate in increasing environmental awareness and improving the environmental education of the society.
The Greener Bourgas Project consisted of four sub-projects: Environmental Monitoring , Environmental Management , and Waste Management , Public Participation and Environmental Education . The project implementation was directed towards introducing the following important principles for environmental management: 1. The parameters of the environment should be carefully monitored and effectively controlled. That would ensure objective information about the environmental situation, based on which future work priorities could be defined. 2. Local authorities and business establishments should support and adopt environmental management and the pollution prevention concept. 3. Developing and executing an integrated system for waste management should decrease risks for citizens` health, as well as for the environment. 4. Society should be well informed not only about the current environmental situation, but also about the part each community member should take in improving the state of the environment. 5. Local non-governmental organizations should actively participate in increasing environmental awareness and improving the environmental education of the society.
Practice
Main goals of the sub-project Environmental Management were:
Local authorities and industry to develop a common Program for environmental improvements in the business establishments;
Local authorities, businesses and publicity to increase their competency in the field of environmental management and pollution prevention.
The work group comprised of representatives of the Municipality of Bourgas, the Regional Environmental Inspectorate Bourgas, businesses participating in the project, as well as Dutch experts, created a work plan which included:
1. Introducing environmental management systems (EMS)
As part of the Greener Bourgas Project, the Dutch experts and the local authorities worked together on a volunteer basis to implement joint activities and define priority measures for pollution reduction and environment protection. Managers of companies and firms were motivated to work according to the national and international requirements for protected environment and clean production; in this way they improved their market reputation and strengthened their cooperation with local authorities.
Nine regional business establishments participated in the project: Neftohim , Bourgas Harbour, Airport Bourgas, Elkabel , Hemus , Bourgasbus , Metalni izdelia , Bottling Company, and Kambana .
The primary goal of the project was to improve the environmental situation in these companies through implementing the environmental management systems in conformity with the international standard ISO 14001. As a result of the common efforts of the Bulgarian and Dutch experts, all business establishments prepared a description of the current situation and aspects of the environment, an Environmental Policy document, and an Environmental Program. On this base, the procedures and instructions for the environmental management systems began gradually to be developed and introduced.
2. Pollution prevention and environmental technologies
The sub-project included several seminars on the following topics: Pollution prevention and environmental technologies , Environmental management , and European environmental legislation . Representatives of local businesses and institutions were acquainted with the Dutch experience in the field, as well as with the European requirements and regulations. Dutch experts and work groups from the biggest factories in Bourgas managed to develop together priority measures for the decrease of pollution and protection of the environment.
The activities on introducing the environment management systems into the factories contributed to the improvement of the organizational structure of the companies, and a clearer distribution of responsibilities. They also optimized the management of the technological processes and resources and ensured the execution of environmental legislation requirements.
Main goals of the sub-project Environmental Management were:
Local authorities and industry to develop a common Program for environmental improvements in the business establishments;
Local authorities, businesses and publicity to increase their competency in the field of environmental management and pollution prevention.
The work group comprised of representatives of the Municipality of Bourgas, the Regional Environmental Inspectorate Bourgas, businesses participating in the project, as well as Dutch experts, created a work plan which included:
1. Introducing environmental management systems (EMS)
As part of the Greener Bourgas Project, the Dutch experts and the local authorities worked together on a volunteer basis to implement joint activities and define priority measures for pollution reduction and environment protection. Managers of companies and firms were motivated to work according to the national and international requirements for protected environment and clean production; in this way they improved their market reputation and strengthened their cooperation with local authorities.
Nine regional business establishments participated in the project: Neftohim , Bourgas Harbour, Airport Bourgas, Elkabel , Hemus , Bourgasbus , Metalni izdelia , Bottling Company, and Kambana .
The primary goal of the project was to improve the environmental situation in these companies through implementing the environmental management systems in conformity with the international standard ISO 14001. As a result of the common efforts of the Bulgarian and Dutch experts, all business establishments prepared a description of the current situation and aspects of the environment, an Environmental Policy document, and an Environmental Program. On this base, the procedures and instructions for the environmental management systems began gradually to be developed and introduced.
2. Pollution prevention and environmental technologies
The sub-project included several seminars on the following topics: Pollution prevention and environmental technologies , Environmental management , and European environmental legislation . Representatives of local businesses and institutions were acquainted with the Dutch experience in the field, as well as with the European requirements and regulations. Dutch experts and work groups from the biggest factories in Bourgas managed to develop together priority measures for the decrease of pollution and protection of the environment.
The activities on introducing the environment management systems into the factories contributed to the improvement of the organizational structure of the companies, and a clearer distribution of responsibilities. They also optimized the management of the technological processes and resources and ensured the execution of environmental legislation requirements.
Results
All business experts, members of the work group on the Environment Management sub-project, received a certificate for obtained course for System for environment management and international standards, series ISO 14 000.
The Bourgas Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized a stimulating campaign which included seminars on environmental management systems with participants from the small and medium size enterprises, as well as distribution of information materials. These activities introduced to the public and the small businesses the advantages of the environmental management systems, and contributed to the increase of the environemntal awareness among the society.
All business experts, members of the work group on the Environment Management sub-project, received a certificate for obtained course for System for environment management and international standards, series ISO 14 000.
The Bourgas Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized a stimulating campaign which included seminars on environmental management systems with participants from the small and medium size enterprises, as well as distribution of information materials. These activities introduced to the public and the small businesses the advantages of the environmental management systems, and contributed to the increase of the environemntal awareness among the society.
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