Interview with Vladimir Dragović

FROM THE ENTREPRENEUR'S VIEWPOINT: DRA GROUP D.O.O.

DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING TO CHANCE

Stressing the essential role of the lawmakers in the field of waste management, the general manager of DRA Group d.o.o. Vladimir Dragović warns that cooperation between the operators and competent authorities must be raised to a higher level than it is prevailant in our country not counting those which even today unconscionably manage hazardous waste.

DRA Group company was founded at the end of 2007. with an aim of promoting environment protection and as an attempt to implement new systems of value in hazardous industrial waste management.

„The ladder of success, both for me and the company, has been steep and full of challenges ranging from ignorance to lack of precise regulation“, says for Kompakt magazine the general manager of DRA Group Vladimir Dragović, a man who doesn't give in, who loves challenges and who, in his own words, has faired well in this business as well.

Today the company has four employees, all the permits for waste management and a fully equipped warehouse for hazardous waste storage. Soon, DRA Group will buy a special purpose vehicle for transporting hazardous waste, which will aid them in being on service for their clients even more.

„It is my personal conviction that every innovation in business must entail something positive if it is based on obligatory legislation, by that I mean laws and executive acts“ , Dragović points out.

In this company nothing is left to chance. The expectations must be followed by precise and short-term planning which must consider good previous experience, and the mistakes of domestic and foreign companies, many of whom this company does business with and which come from the common market of the EU.

„Unfortunately, expert support did not exist. I have decided to invest in myself, in education, learning from partners from France, Austria, Poland,... That encouraged me to apply business steps that enabled me to harmonize the acquired knowledge with our legislature and understand the differences in interpreting certain regulation“, says the director of DRA Group.

Regulation is living matter as well

Waste management is a new business branch only in former Yugoslavia, while in some parts of Europe it is on a very high level of development, says Dragović and points out that his biggest support until now has been the understanding of his family.

„It would not be good for that legislature to be wrapped because it is a live matter, which is best and most efectivelly expanded upon through practice. Every new situation is a new experience. International directives and regulation are being expanded upon at the moment. I am not aware that Serbia is doing something in regard to that issue, although we have been given the opportunity to enhance our legislature in the direction that would alievate certain ambiguities and expand them with the experience of us, the operators“ remarks Vladimir Dragović.

On the other hand, the DRA Group manager says that he is dissatissfied about him and his colleagues never being invited to give suggestions or assist in drawing up the legislature, although their experience could well prove invaluable in the process of drawing up or ammending certain acts.

„State assistance is naturally always welcome and tempting. However, that assistance is unavailable to most hazardous industrial waste operators, with electric and electronic waste and waste oil operators excluded. The waste oil operators which perform waste oil treatment get substantial sums for every gathered kilogram. I cannot understand that companies that gather electric and electronic equipment and operators which recycle waste, used oils get hundreds of milions of dinars from the budget while at the same time through treatment they get secondary raw materials which they sell on domestic or international markets. By the passing of the REGULATION ON PRODUCTS WHICH AFTER USE BECOME SPECIAL WASTE STREAMS, THE FORM ON DAILY REGISTER OF THE AMOUNT AND TYPE OF MANUFACTURED AND IMPORTED PRODUCTS AND YEARLY REPORT, BONDS AS COMPENSATION INSTRUMENTS, CRITERIA FOR SETTLEMENT, SETTLING AMOUNT AND PAYMENT TERMS (Offical Journal of Republic of Serbia No. 89/09, 8/10 and 21/10), all other operators have been made second rate companies, which means in practice that all those who gather other types of hazardous industrial waste don't have adequate assistance from the government“, warns Dragović.

The Legislation on waste management has brought new rules for the companies that operate in this field in more ways than one. For instance, Article 59. stipulates which kinds of permits are necessary for a legal person to be able to conduct activities regarding waste management.

„Not a single legal person can manage waste without a permit, nor can a waste producer transfer waste to a person without a permit. DRA Group is a licensed operator with all the permits for hazardous industrial waste management and as such cannot choose which types of waste the waste producers transfer for management. The decision to place all our permits on our website www.dragroupw.com has proven itself as very wise“, they advise in this company.

In the opinion of the management of this company the only legal solutions for dealing with hazardous industrial waste are either treatment inside the country or its transboundary movement in accordance with the Legislation on confirmation of the Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal (Official Journal of FRY – International Agreements No. 2/99) and only for those types which cannot be adequately treated in Serbia. The bylaw on the ways of storing, packaging and marking of hazardous waste (Official Journal of RS No. 92/2010) gives more precise instructions regarding that issue.

„Every movement must be announced three working days before the intended date of shipment of waste and in accordance with other bylaws which regulate the movement of waste within the Republic of Serbia, such as the Bylaw on the form of the document for movement of hazardous waste and instructions for its completion. In case of export of hazardous waste it is done in accordance with the Bylaw on the content of the documentation that is submitted together with a request for issuing permits for import, export and transit of waste“ reminds Dragović while recommending to businessmen that they pay close attention when dealing with companies which unconsciounably handle waste on the type of document that they trully need while handing over certain waste types. Through our activities DRA Group has noticed a lot of disrepancies of which the appropriate state authorities have been notified.

Hazardous waste crosses state's borders solely with a completely filled in Annex and provisions of the the Legislation on confirmation of the Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal (Official Journal of FRY – International Agreements No. 2/99).

HOW TO ACHIEVE A PRISTINE ENVIRONMENT

„The business factors that truly care about the environment have given their full support together with a few local municipalities from whom I have received Acknowledgements for my work, because they are aware that unconsciounable hazardous waste management is an unlawful act and that it is something that will compromise the health of their loved ones. That support manifests itself in a growing number of my satisfied business partners who are giving more of their trust in the sense of contracting DRA Group d.o.o.

Our next step is opening a „daughter“ company in a country in the region. The legal formalities surrounding that are ongoing.

Constant eduaction of all the employees goes without saying, however it is demanding for us as well as for others who out of one reason or another have contact with hazardous waste. We are consultants in many companies, so we professionaly take care of environment protection in all its aspects.

I would like to say to all the readers of Kompakt magazine that the invention of wheel brought immense joy to our ancestors and that our immeasurable joy would come if we manage to find a way towards a clean, noncontaminated environment“.

BEWILDERING

In application of the legislation there have been complications especially on the local level, some out of ignorance some out of improper interpretation of the legislature. However there has been ill will as well, in the opinion of our interviewee.

„I'm especially surprised that persons who have received awards in the field of environment protection are involved in dishonorable and unlawful acts“, Dragović suspects.