An innovative collaboration between the Red Cross of Montenegro and the Zeta Municipality led to the development of Green Islands – local waste management stations – that help to protect the community from flooding by reducing blockages in drainage canals and minimizing the risk of contamination and related health conditions.
Between 2018 and 2024, the Red Cross of Montenegro, as part of the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance (now the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance), worked in collaboration with the Zeta Municipality, in the flood-exposed outskirts of Skadar Lake, to prioritize waste management actions and awareness to enhance flood resilience.
Waste management and floods
Previously, in the communities of Gostilj and Berislavci, waste disposal was primarily managed at a household level. As a result, waste would commonly be burnt, left in distant parts of the community or would end up in rivers and canals.
The presence of waste in the community can block drainage systems, leading to higher and more prolonged floods and increasing the quantity of debris that can cause injury in moving flood waters. As the community floods, the floodwater can also become contaminated and act as a vector for disease.
Supporting a local solution
Together with the Zeta Municipality, the Red Cross of Montenegro constructed ‘Green Islands’, in the communities of Gostilj and Berislavci. This work involved clearing and levelling sites and installing large metal containers color-coded for different types of waste: green for organic waste; orange for bulky waste such as furniture, appliances and construction materials; and grey for general household waste, divided into dry and wet. All community members are able to use the Green Islands free of charge, and sanitation services collect the waste on a weekly basis.
In addition to the infrastructural importance, these initiatives also had a positive impact on the awareness of citizens and changes in behaviour regarding waste and attitudes towards protecting waterways … in order to reduce the negative impact of floods on people’s lives and their property.
Mihailo Asanović, Mayor of the Municipality of Zeta
Alongside this physical infrastructure, the program also invested in raising awareness of waste and environmental management. Flyers were distributed to the local population with information emphasizing the importance of effective waste management practices, and guidance on how to separate and deposit waste. Additionally, the Red Cross of Montenegro celebrated Earth Day together with the Zeta Municipality in April 2024 by carrying out a community cleanup activity with employees and volunteers, to raise awareness for the importance of effective waste management for flood resilience.
The idea to build Green Islands was identified as a priority in order to improve public hygiene and waste disposal, the inadequate management of which also leads to a series of serious problems, especially in the case of floods.
Jelena Dubak, Secretary General of the Red Cross of Montenegro
Generating momentum in collaboration
The installation of Green Islands was the third flood resilience initiative carried out via the unique partnership between the Zeta Municipality and the Red Cross of Montenegro. Following the repair of the flood protection wall in Ponari and the cleaning of the canal in Kurilo and Bistrice, trust and cooperation further strengthened the partnership. In each of these projects, the local authorities provided support in the form of direct financial contributions and technical assistance, such as environmental risk assessment, quality control, permit approvals and project documentation.
The implementation of these projects was preceded by excellent cooperation between our administration and the Red Cross of Montenegro.
Mihailo Asanović, Mayor of the Municipality of Zeta
The collaboration with the Zeta Municipality demonstrated a successful partnership between state and non-state actors based on identifying shared objectives, highlighting opportunities for pooling resources, and working considerately to build trust and generate positive results. Through this approach, the Green Islands is a sustainable program now managed by the Zeta Municipality, which has expressed plans to replicate this intervention in more communities.
Learn more about the positive impact of the Alliance in Montenegro through solutions related to flood resilience awareness and capacity, environmental management and national policy change here.