Belgrade to introduce reverse vending machines for PET packaging

The City of Belgrade is preparing to introduce reverse vending machines for waste that will enable citizens to top up public transportation smart cards when they recycle.

The project is part of a tender for the operation of the fare collection system and the management of public transportation in Belgrade, which was announced a few days ago. Deputy Mayor Goran Vesić said one of the bidding requirements is for public transportation cards to be used not only for paying public transportation fares, but also for various other services.

Citizens will be able to recycle PET packaging in the reverse vending machines

He said the new card would be called the Belgrade Card, and added the tender also requires for it to be topped up by recycling.

According to Vesić, Belgrade is moving towards a completely new system of recycling and waste separation. The city is preparing 17 recycling yards and is deploying reverse vending machines all over the city, where people will be able to insert PET packaging.

Instead of receiving money for the recycled waste, they will be able to press their card against the device and get credit for public transportation or some other services, said Vesić, adding that this is part of the Smart City project.

At the request of the city, the future private partner will be obliged to enable the connection of public transportation cards with recycling machines

According to the tendering documentation, the private partner will be obliged to improve the performance of the fare collection system and the management of vehicles in public transportation. Recycling is also on the list of planned improvements.

At the request of the city (within three months of the date the request is made), the private partner will be obliged to allow public transportation cards to be topped up at devices that have the necessary hardware and software capabilities (ticket vending machines, recycling equipment, automatic recharge points for smart cards, etc.), the documentation reads.

Public buses to be fueled by natural gas instead of diesel

A few days ago the assembly of the City of Belgrade also adopted a decision on the construction of charging points for buses fueled by natural gas. The decision will be implemented by the public transportation operator, GSP, through a public-private partnership. The decision is in line with the city’s earlier announcement that it would stop buying diesel buses.

Belgrade plans to buy 100 buses on natural gas and 10 electric buses this year, and a total of 500 natural gas buses in the next five years.