About Us

Achieving sustainable development, in which social and economic interests are balanced with the preservation and protection of the environment, should become the dominant and desirable way of development not only on a theoretical but also on a practical level. The very idea of ​​sustainable development is based on intergenerational equality in meeting needs and the balance between current interests and the interests of future generations.

Environment Engineering Group strive to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in their community with their activities, but also to support the spread of the philosophy and application of the principles of sustainable development to other communities as well.

As sustainable development includes society as a whole and all its activities, for the sake of practical action and achieving measurable results, the organization focused on environmental protection as one of the pillars of sustainable development. In order for the activities we carry out to be efficient and effective, we have prioritized the areas of waste management, circular economy, climate change and protection of water resources. In this way, we have clearly directed the development of our capacities and resources, because, unfortunately, the problems and challenges in these areas are becoming more and more intense every day.

Waste management is the backbone of the expertise of Environment Engineering Group, and in the past two decades we have implemented numerous activities with the aim of bringing this important topic into the public’s focus. Unfortunately, the waste management system in Serbia is developing very slowly and chaotically, primarily due to the lack of clear and accurate data, but also the lack of will and knowledge among decision makers. This situation leads to serious consequences for human health and the environment. The goal we want to achieve with our actions is to establish a functional waste management system in Serbia, based on the waste management hierarchy agreed in the European Union, and applied in accordance with the specificities of the region and technical development in Serbia. The purpose of the waste management system for which we advocate is that the impact of waste on health and the environment must be reduced to a minimum and that the costs of waste management must be borne by the one who produces that waste, in accordance with the principles prescribed by the Framework Directive on waste of the European Union, which are also defined by our Law on Waste Management. The complete and indiscriminate application of legal regulations in this, as well as in other areas important for waste management, are the imperatives we strive for. We regularly inform the public about failures in waste management and possible ways to improve it, and the large number of experts we work with and the quality of the activities carried out clearly show the maturity and functionality of our capacities when it comes to this topic.

The circular economy is an area that is naturally related to waste management and that is gaining more and more attention due to the fact that the consumption of natural resources has become more intensive and the degradation of the environment is more and more visible. In addition to the expertise we have developed in the field of waste management, through activities in the field of circular economy we have developed the knowledge and skills necessary for a more complete understanding of this topic, including the use of energy, water and other resources. A significant contribution to the development of our capacities was played by membership in the permanent working group of the European Environment Bureau (EEB), through which we exchange information and knowledge about the most current developments in this area. In addition, the partnership that was developed with the Chamber of Commerce of Vojvodina through the Council for Circular Economy and the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia through the Center for Circular Economy further strengthened our capacities and enabled us to transfer the acquired knowledge and skills to other interested parties.

Climate change has become our everyday life, but also the future. Waste management has a significant impact on climate change and air pollution in Serbia, especially from the aspect of increasingly frequent fires at landfills, but also the emission of gases with a greenhouse effect that occur in the waste management system itself. These were the reasons for us to develop part of our skills and knowledge in this area as well, although it is increasingly difficult to say where the boundaries are. Multidisciplinary teams are essential for the successful operation of Environment Engineering Group, and of all the areas we deal with, in activities related to climate change, the importance of different expertise and the variety of knowledge are perhaps the most pronounced. Our future will be largely defined by our ability to adapt to climate change and reduce our negative impact on the environment.

Water quality. Without water there is no life, and there is less and less available clean and safe water. This situation will shape, together with climate change, the entire 21st century. The capacities of Environment Engineering Group in this area are still developing, but we already have the expertise and knowledge to make a clear contribution in defining the development of water resources management in Serbia.

We firmly believe that youth and knowledge are the carriers of the development and progress of any society and that society in Serbia must make every effort to enable decision-making based on clear and unambiguous data, professional knowledge and the interests of society as a whole, including at least three generations. Decision-makers must be responsible for their decisions and be able to compensate for the damage resulting from them, especially if this damage occurs in the environment and has negative consequences for human health. The professional public has an obligation to participate in the creation and adoption of regulations and public policies at all levels and monitor their implementation, but also to inform and educate citizens about the consequences that may arise from the decisions made. Or they didn’t.

Due to the significant potential that entrepreneurship, craftsmanship and rural development can have on the environment and the achievement of sustainable development, Environment Engineering Group direct part of their activities in these areas, primarily through the development of the Center for Rural Development and Applied Education in Jasko, but also through international projects aimed at connecting environmental protection, circular economy, entrepreneurship and craftsmanship, with a special emphasis on youth and women.

The founders, then students of the Department of Environmental Protection Engineering at the Faculty of Technical Sciences of the University of Novi Sad, found inspiration for the creation of the association in the need to make a clear and concrete contribution to reducing the harmful impact of people on the environment and applying knowledge and professional expertise to achieve sustainable development in Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia, Europe and the world.

The organization started its work in 2005, and in 2006 it was officially registered as an association called Environment Engineering Group.

The Environment Engineering Group’s work philosophy is based on the idea of ​​an inextricable connection between man and nature, popularized by a speech attributed to Chief Seattle, one of the most famous symbols of contemporary environmental ethics. The motto behind all our actions is short and clear: “Think globally, act locally”.

For two full decades, the goals that the organization strives to achieve through its work have remained the same – changes in definitions were aimed at focusing on key problems and challenges faced by both humanity and local communities.

Environment Engineering Group in their membership gather, first of all, experts in the main areas of activity: sustainable development, environmental protection, waste management, water protection, climate change, energy, rural development, youth work, development of entrepreneurship, crafts and culture. In addition, a significant base of activists and volunteers is made up of students, educators, active farmers and numerous others interested in various possibilities of action in environmental protection.

In the first decade of the organization’s work, the “Alliance for Global Sustainability” and education conducted by the “Youth Encounter on Sustainability (YES)” program, the Regional Center for the Environment and the “Youth Environmental Leaders” program, as well as cooperation with the home faculty, had a key influence. The contract on business and technical cooperation between the Faculty of Technical Sciences – Department of Environmental Protection Engineering and the Association of Environmental Protection Engineers was signed on September 23, 2009.

Environment Engineering Group crowned their 10th anniversary with the start of a long-term international partnership and the establishment of the Center for Rural Development and Applied Education on the slopes of the Fruška Gora National Park, in the village of Jazak, near Vrdnik Spa.

The valuable experience that the organization gained in the processes of youth policy development in the territory of Serbia, Vojvodina and the City of Novi Sad, in the second decade of its existence, resulted in the notable and continuous participation of our representatives in initiatives and working bodies aimed at creating and implementing public policies in the areas of our work.

Since its inception, the association has fostered a partnership relationship with other interested parties, individuals, institutions and donors. The professional attitude towards the assumed obligations and the efficient management of the available resources led to the recognition of the Environment Engineering Group as an organization that turns its principles and values ​​into concrete activities and programs, thus fulfilling the mission it set for itself and contributing to the realization of the vision of the society in which it wants to function.

Until now, the association has had the opportunity to provide support for its work through projects from numerous international donors, institutions, business entities and individuals.

In order to ensure continuity and stability in the implementation of their activities, the Environment Engineering Group also registered the performance of economic activity under the code 7022 – Consulting activities related to business and other management. In this way, in addition to the projects we implement, we have the opportunity to provide services from our expertise, primarily in the field of waste management and work with young people, and in this way ensure co-financing of current projects, but also continuous work on achieving the organization’s mission and goals.

A large number of friends, partners, associates, donors, media and institutions with whom the Environment Engineering Group cooperate and/or have cooperated since 2005 until today are the best confirmation of the commitment, perseverance and correctness of the activities that are being implemented.

Environment Engineering Group is a place where all those who want to contribute to the protection and preservation of the environment and sustainable development are welcome. Join in!