JEROLIM – AN ISLAND WITHOUT PLASTIC

A sculpture by Pula sculptor Marko Človek, representing the Brijuni National Park logo, will be installed near the pier. This also serves as a drop‑off point for single‑use plastic bottles visitors no longer need after their trip. Waste‑separation bins are being removed from the island—instead, upon purchasing their ticket, visitors receive a trash bag and instructions, encouraging them to take their waste home.

In our local community, different types of waste are generated every day – from household and plastic to bulky and electronic. By properly sorting and disposing of waste, we all contribute to a cleaner environment, a healthier life and the preservation of natural resources for future generations. Waste is any material that ceases to have its original purpose and is no longer used, and is generated in households, industry and service sectors and in everyday life. Depending on its composition and origin, waste is divided into different types such as municipal, hazardous, electronic, biowaste and the more familiar paper, plastic, glass. 

(Charts: Annual amount of municipal waste and plastic waste per capita: global average, European Union and Croatian average)

Mass production of plastic waste began in the 1950s. Its popularity is due to its extremely wide application and low cost of production and processing. After using paper for a long time and bringing with it the problem of deforestation and excessive use of natural resources as a result of uncontrolled use of resources, man found his comfort in plastic. The forests have taken a breather, but what has happened in the meantime?! 

Plastic has taken over the monopoly: packaging - bottles, containers, foil, bags, nets; textile clothing, footwear, upholstery; cosmetics - scrubs, creams.. It was originally designed as a long-lasting material, but today it is actually mostly disposable, which has led us to the current challenges. 

According to OECD data, the annual amount of plastic waste per capita varies, for example, in the United States it is 221 kg, while in European OECD countries the average is 114 kg. According to the European Parliament, in 2021, the average EU resident generated 36.1 kg of plastic packaging waste. According to the Plastic Smart Cities initiative, Croatia generates around 96 kg of plastic waste per capita annually. 

Europe ranks second in the world in plastic production, according to the latest research, as much as 70 to 80% of the waste produced ends up in the marine environment and it is estimated that as much as 300 million tons of plastic waste floats in the world's seas.

(Photo source: https://www.oceansplasticleanup.com/Gyres_Oceans_Plastics_Marine/Pacific_North_Gyres_Oceans_Marine_Plastic_Cleanup_Projects.htm)

Recycling is known to be a controversial way to reduce plastic waste, as it is inefficient and actually pollutes the environment. 

The recycling rate of plastic is very low because not all plastic is the same! Plastic materials are divided into polyester (PET), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), nylon (PA), cellulose acetate (CA) and other (OTHER) according to their composition. Each material is used for different applications and has a different specific density that depends on the composition of the particles and a different time and method of decomposition, as well as the method of recycling. 

Plastic materials bind toxic compounds from the environment and can be a carrier of alien and invasive species and remain in animals! 

Depending on its density, plastic remains on the surface of the sea, in the water column or settles on the seabed. Marine organisms often mistake it for food, so it often happens that sea turtles replace jellyfish with plastic bags. Clams, mussels and other organisms filter the mud and water and eat plastic micro and nano particles. Fish and seabirds replace food with plastic, and thus die of hunger or suffocation, and often this plastic ends up on our plates.

According to the data on waste retained in the water column, a total of 12 km of water area was analyzed during the research. It was calculated that, on average, on Brijuni we find about 80 items per square meter of water column. The majority, or 78% of the analyzed waste was plastic waste. 

Data on waste collected on the seabed were collected by divers who searched the seabed from 0 to 20 m depth. It was calculated that, on average, on Brijuni we find about 8 items per 100 square meters of seabed. The most commonly found material category was glass (> 50%), however, large quantities of plastic and metal (> 15%) were also found. Most of the waste could not be identified (about 74%) in order to recognize its origin. It was proven that 18% of the waste comes from tourism activities and 5% from the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

On Brijuni, the green transition in the context of waste management includes strategies for waste reduction, recycling, composting and using waste as a resource. On islands, where waste management is often challenging due to limited resources and space, it is important to apply a zero waste approach. Green Public Procurement (GPP) refers to the procurement of products and services that are environmentally friendly, energy efficient and produced with minimal negative environmental impact. Sustainable agriculture involves the application of methods that reduce chemicals, protect soil and water, and sustainable tourism reduces the negative environmental impacts of mass tourism, using eco-friendly accommodation, reducing energy and water consumption and promoting local products.