A Tailwind for a New Beginning: A Fresh Start for Waste Pickers

When the Loznica city landfill closes in 2027, the families who have depended on collecting secondary raw materials for years will lose their primary source of income. Recognizing this challenge, the City of Loznica launched activities to provide these families with an opportunity for a more sustainable future. This was achieved through the project "Local Coordination Mechanism for the Protection of Income Sources of Waste Pickers," supported under the "PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature" Programme.

Eight families engaged in informal waste picking were identified at the city landfill. The project’s goal was not only to provide them with an alternative source of income but also to integrate them into the social protection, education, healthcare and employment systems.

We went out to the city landfill and found eight families who live by collecting secondary raw materials. Our motivation was to offer them an alternative," says Tanja Glišić, Head of the Department for Social Affairs of the Loznica City Administration.

Through the project, local coordination mechanisms were established, connecting representatives from social protection, healthcare, education, the National Employment Service, and public enterprises. Concurrently, individual support was provided to the families through more than 300 field visits, assistance in obtaining personal documents, and facilitating access to social services, education, and employment.

A special focus was placed on economic empowerment. Family members underwent training to acquire new skills and subsequently received equipment enabling them to launch or upgrade their own business activities.

Among them is the multi-generational seven-member family of Alen Stipić. Thanks to the equipment he received through the project—a chainsaw, a trimmer, and a steam cleaner—he now earns a more stable income.

The machines we received have significantly changed my life, and consequently, the lives of my family. They pulled us out of poverty," Alen shares.

Visible changes are also evident in the family of Dušan Ignjatović, who secured a job at a public utility company following a three-month training programme.

I have fit in really well, and my colleagues have accepted me," says Dušan.

His wife, Zlatica, completed a hairdressing course and, with the equipment provided by the project, plans to open her own salon.

This encourages me to push forward and not give up. It feels like climbing stairs where you just can't seem to reach the top. And then, suddenly, you get a tailwind and climb up rapidly," she says with a smile, concluding her story.

Milivoje Ahmetović from the village of Joševa, whose household counts 29 members, is among those who received support to start a construction business.

The project enabled us to open a construction company. Things are going better for us, and we live differently now. We feel that someone actually cares about us, thinks about us, and wants to empower us economically so that we don't depend on state welfare for the rest of our lives," says Milivoje.

The support extended beyond employment. Many families faced a lack of personal identification documents, housing issues, and barriers to accessing education and healthcare. Through the project, children received school supplies, tutoring, and additional assistance to ensure regular school attendance.

Out of the eight families covered by the project, more than 40 members lacked personal documents, and children were attending school irregularly. For now, a pedagogical assistant has been provided at the primary school in Jadranska Lešnica, which is attended by a majority of Roma children. Since these are children from families where parents lack the capacity to help them, we felt it was vital to provide them with learning support. Today, these children attend classes more regularly and achieve better results," explains Ljiljana Ranković, project coordinator and family assistant.

The children received backpacks, school supplies, and everything they needed for school. I believe this also gives them the will to learn because they see that someone is thinking about them. Today I visited the principal, and they praised my grandson, saying he is the most intelligent student in the school. He is in the seventh grade now and wants to graduate," Milivoje adds with pride.

Perhaps the greatest value of the project lies not just in the equipment, employment, or training, but in the established model of cooperation that will endure long after its completion. Local institutions now collaborate more effectively, identify the needs of vulnerable families faster, and connect them to required services more efficiently.

The project offered support not only for the families but for the entire community. Thanks to the experience we have gained, we will be able to provide more adequate support to other families in similar situations," concludes Tanja Glišić.

For eight families from Loznica, this project did not represent a mere one-time aid package, but a genuine opportunity to take their first step toward a more secure future.