Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
Background
The residents of the village of Mezek, Svilengrad Municipality have responsible attitude towards nature and its future.
Practice
The village of Mezek, Svilengrad proclaimed itself an eco-village. Its 380 residents denied using the harmful polyethylenebags and replaced them with textile ones.These bags are distributed free in the two village shops. And a special rule is in force there – if someone goes shopping without the eco-bag, he/she is obliged to pay 10 stotinki for a polyethylenebag. The aim is to keep the village clear.
The eco-bags are made of whitecotton cloth and on one side there are two green inscriptions:
- “Use this bag to keep nature for next generations” and
- “ Only after the last tree has been cut down, the last river has been poisoned, the last fish caught, only then will you find that money cannot be eaten”.
On the other side the images of the famous medieval fortress and the Thracian tomb, situated near the village, are printed.
The initiative was an idea of local firms “Studio2” and “Siltex” and it was fulfilled with the financial support of the municipality. Municipal leading bodies hope that in future a similar innovation will be introduced in other villages in the Municipality of Svilengrad.
Results
It was made a small, but very significant step towards preserving nature and we hope that this practice will be accepted in other municipalities, too.
For more information:
Kalina Raykova – PR, Svilengrad Municipality
tel.: 0379/ 74 317
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