Call for Applications for Small Recycling Businesses (Start-up, Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises) Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use Management Project in Dragash/š Table of Contents Objectives of this call for application ......................................................................................... 2 General information .................................................................................................................. 2 Application Form ........................................................................................................................ 5 Section 1 Applicant information ............................................................................................ 5 Section 2 Description of the business plan ............................................................................ 7 Annex1 Summary of relevant information on Dragash territory ............................... 11 Annex 2 Companies willing to purchase plastic at the collection point ......................... 18 Annex 3 Types of plastics purchased by recycling companies ....................................... 22 Annex 4 Proposed work plan ....................................................................................... 24 UNDP 1 Objectives of this call for application The objective of this pilot initiative is to establish micro-business for recycling focusing on extracting the plastic available from the region of Dragash. This call for applications targets small business men & women of Dragash. The pilot will provide only to one beneficiary: a pressing machine capable of pressing plastics, cardboard and cans*. It is expected that the successful applicant will be a resident of Dragash territory, have an appropriate piece of land and hopefully previous experience in recycling or collecting of recyclable. It is also expected that he/she will have sufficient understanding of the business and its complexity especially in relation to collection of the plastic from the different sources: Households, schools, shops, and any other sources. The success of this project will contribute in improving the situation of waste management in Dragash, reducing the volume of plastic waste substantially and allowing for new economic resources to flow into the local economy. The benefits of eliminating the plastic waste that exists in the territory of Dragash will contribute to the developing Dragash’s Vision for the future†, which implies an improved, clean and healthy environment. This is especially pertinent as part of Dragsh territory has recently been incorporated into the Sharr Mountain National Park. Although the recycling of plastics waste has increased substantially in recent years in Kosovo, this practice has not reached the region of Dragash. This pilot project is aimed at increasing the recycling of plastics waste in Dragash and it is expected to develop techniques and procedures for decreasing the quantity of plastic waste to a minimum and at opening new markets for recycled plastics (e.g. for PET bottles, PE films or PVC building materials). This should decrease the amount of total waste reaching the dumpsite and total waste being collected by the waste company. It should also contribute to eliminating the amount of plastic laying down in the open fields of Dragash and in the rivers and surroundings of its roads. General information Dragash is a 435 square kilometres mountain region, located in the southern region of Kosovo- Prizren, and is characterized today by its high level of poverty, migration and great landscape beauty and relevant water resources. Basic background information on Dragash municipality is provided in annexes for the applicant to consider and integrate in producing his proposal. Dragash/Dragaš is one of the Balkan’s hotspots with regards to its exceptional biodiversity containing a considerable number of endemic and rare species. The main * Ownership will only be transferred once several months of consistent work and results are achieved by the beneficiary. † Dragash Vision MDP 2012-2020: “Dragash presents and preserves traditions. The southern gate of Sharr/Šar Mountain National Park with rich biodiversity, state-of-the-art infrastructure with the right scale, sustainable economy, ecological usable resources and high quality bio-products is a place where everyone wishes to come and rest in the beautiful and clean nature. Rich cultural heritage and a population ready to welcome guests with hospitality and homemade food attract local and international visitors.” UNDP 2 challenge of Dragash municipality in the years to come is to effectively protect its natural territory. Recently (Dec. 2012) a large portion of its territory has been declared part of the Sharr Mountain National Park. The National Park category brings to Dragash the possibility of increased tourism and of branding its products and services accordingly. It is well known that nature based tourism in the world is the preferred destination of tourists, and that regions where national parks exist can benefit from the economic thrive of this categorization. None the less, one obstacle that may prevent Dragash from improving its economy through the national park category and benefits is the current situation on waste management in their 35 villages and main town. There is a public waste management company which is operational only in 22 villages, while 13 villages are not included in the service. This exclusion contributes to a high level of environmental pollution; even in villages where there is waste being collected some families refuse to pay the collection service and continue to throw their waste in rivers or other public spaces within village. Waste management today in Dragash‡ is deficient, not only because it does not cover the entire territory, but also because it is an unsatisfactory service, it is irregular and it does not promote improvement with teh citizens themselves. The company itself does not promote any type of recycling or separation of waste at any stage of the process It is estimated that there is a volume of at least 747 tons of plastic in the waste produced in all 36 cadastral districts in Dragash. This figure could possibly be as high as 2081 tons given the summer population which brings to the territory and important and noticeable population of Diaspora community. Summary of information on waste is also provided in Annexes for analysis by the applicants. A simple table is provided here below: Estimation of plastic produced in Dragash Population 33,995§ Rural HHs 5635** Population estimated 61902†† during the summer Volume of waste Percentage of plastic Total plastic (tons) (%) available per sector winter summer winter summer Winter summer HH 2,756 2,793 19 8.9 525 249 Restaurants 268 170 6.4 29.7 17.15 50.49 Schools 121 2 31.8 26.5 32.06 0.53 Hotels 18 30 8.8 2 1.59 0.6 Market 3 24.3 40.2 0.73 ‡ A waste management plan has been drafted and is being discussed with the Municipality. Details of waste composition and volumes can be found in this document which will be made available to the applicants upon request § (census 2011) ** Kosovo Statistical Office †† UNDP 3 Streets 10.7 Grosseries 170 56 16 27.6 8.96 Other 477 225 26.7 5.1 127.34 11.48 shops 731.47 321.06 Total estimated plastic (tons) 1052.53 Total potential business sold at average 237 EU /ton EU 249,449.61 The figures provided above, need to be analyzed properly by the applicant as it is estimated that in most regions in Kosovo plastic is not collected in winter season. This does not mean that plastic could not be separated at the household and sold to the collection point in summer time or after winter. The level of plastic potentially collected by the collector- beneficiary will largely depend on his initiative to generate the correct economic incentive and to disseminate the information adequately amongst the community. The beneficiary will have to play some business scenarios - for example, analyzing the potential of targeting the collection of plastic intensively from the main Dragash town and the 8 main sub-centers that have been defined as the villages that have a growing trend in terms of population and where there is a trend of concentration of the main number of SME’s and or registered businesses. Details of these core sub- centers is provided also in Annexes. (Annex 1) The beneficiary will need to set up a purchasing price for plastic per kilo to create the correct incentive. It is expected also that the beneficiary- collector- will raise awareness of the community and schools ensuring that his business is known throughout the Dragash region. It is expected that he will define a collection mechanism /calendar to ensure that all villages are served by collection of plastic service, which in turn will enable his business to flourish. It is also estimated that there is a market for selling pressed plastic in different categories, a table of companies that purchase plastic at the collection point is provide in Annex 2. Plastic is sold, depending on the type at a price of 150 to 325 Euros per ton. UNDP 4 Application Form Application Deadline: Deadline for Applications is 16th of September 2013, 17:30. Completed applications should be sent to: [email protected], or to the following address:UNDP Dragash/š project offices, Sheshi i Dëshmorëve, P.n. building of Education Directorate in Dragash/šPublication Date: 07 August 2013 Published: 1. On UNDP website 2. In the Municipal website For all technical questions regarding