Caring for health plays an essential role in daily life, from the food we consume to the quality of our sleep and the time we dedicate to physical activity. Walking, jogging, or running strengthens the body and mind and offers opportunities to connect with nature. However, for these activities to be genuinely beneficial, the environment we spend our time in must be healthy and clean.
Our country is rich in natural treasures and beauty, inviting exploration and active enjoyment. Yet, how much we truly value what we have is reflected in the growing consequences of human neglect—polluted air and piles of waste that disrupt nature’s pristine beauty.
Respect for nature is most deeply rooted when instilled in childhood. Those fortunate enough to have parents who nurtured their love for nature and outdoor activities carry these values into adulthood. Such was the childhood of Miloš Stanojević. As he grew older, it became increasingly difficult for him to pass through the stunning landscapes of our country without noticing the waste that marred their beauty. This desire to confront the problem inspired Miloš to become a champion of plogging. This practice combines jogging or walking with collecting litter to clean the environment while staying physically active.
In early 2021, Miloš created the Instagram profile @trail_cleaner to share his activities, raise awareness about the surrounding problem, and emphasize the importance of proper waste disposal. His mission also promotes the idea that picking up litter left by others is not something to be ashamed of but rather a responsibility we should all embrace.
“It’s a combination of upbringing, rebellion against the traces of human negligence and ignorance, and the need to raise awareness that it’s UP TO YOU, up to all of us. That’s where the slogan #oćuštamiteško (‘I want to, is it so hard?’) comes from,” Miloš explains.
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Plogging Srbija
In our country, plogging is emerging as a pioneering movement, gaining popularity in recent years thanks to the activities organized by Plogging Serbia, a sports association. As part of its efforts, this organization conducts cleanup initiatives at various locations, including natural and urban areas. Through educational and promotional campaigns, it also organizes events during sports festivals, races, and school programs. A significant contribution is its participation in races organized by the Association for Recreation and Fitness of Serbia, which annually holds eight races across Serbia.
Miloš engages citizens in an interesting way by highlighting the importance of plogging through his original show, Eko manija(k). Viewers can see the locations of cleanup initiatives, how these efforts are carried out, and how collecting waste can even be enjoyable during activities like kayaking, cycling, rock climbing, diving, and similar pursuits.
Plogging Serbia attracts an increasing number of enthusiasts and volunteers, including professional athletes and environmental activists, who regularly participate in various cleanup and educational programs. Notable locations for these initiatives, as highlighted by Miloš, include Vršački breg, regarded as one of the cleanest spots they have visited and cleaned multiple times in conjunction with the Challenge Race League organized by the Association for Recreation and Fitness of Serbia. Other cleanup sites include Rtanj, Fruška Gora (Tour de Fruška), Golija, Avala, the Uvac canyon, and rivers like the Sava and the Danube, where hundreds of kilograms of waste have been removed.
“I would particularly highlight Silver Lake, where the local government supported the initiative, and students from nearby schools joined. This type of volunteerism and support yields the best results and is a key aspect of our efforts because it’s the youth who will join us in fighting for a better future,” Miloš explains.
The collected waste is sorted by categories, such as plastic, glass, metal, paper, and bio-waste, which facilitates recycling. After sorting, the waste is handed over to authorized companies or local municipal enterprises, with whom arrangements are typically made for the disposal procedure.
When discussing waste management in Serbia generally, Miloš emphasizes that some larger municipalities are better organized, but smaller communities still face challenges in waste collection, recycling, and disposal. While initiatives are underway to improve the waste management system, citizens need to remain active and contribute to proper sorting and disposal themselves.
Prepared by Katarina Vuinac
The story was published in the Energy portal Magazine RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS
