Daily Cleanup of Lake Ohrid: Removing Trash and Household Debris!

We are increasingly witnessing waste and household debris in the waters of Lake Ohrid. On the shoreline, cigarette butts and plastic bottles can be seen, while old bathtubs and televisions are often retrieved from the lakebed.

Irresponsibility of a certain group of citizens is turning Lake Ohrid into a landfill, says Nikola Paskali, our local eco hero who has been organizing volunteer environmental clean-up actions for 12 years.

Nikola is a professional archaeologist and works in underwater archaeology. During the summer season, he organizes diving tours, and in the winter, he says he has a moral obligation to help the lake get rid of unnecessary debris.

The photos he shares daily on social media show that at the bottom of the lake, one can find plastic kitchenware, plastic and glass bottles, car tires, vehicle seats, and nets from illegal fishermen.

"I understand the need to visit Lake Ohrid or live on its shores. However, I don't understand the need to throw waste and household debris into the lake's waters. Lake Ohrid is our natural treasure that makes us proud Macedonians, and the very fact should remind us that waste belongs in a landfill, not in the water," says Nikola. He adds that parents themselves should educate their children from a young age on how to be environmentally responsible, not set an example of how we should not behave.

In anticipation of the upcoming summer season, "SKOPSKO" has launched a new campaign aimed at raising environmental awareness among citizens traveling within the country as domestic tourists. The campaign, "Together for a Clean Lake Ohrid," has an educational and ecological concept. It emphasizes the importance of keeping clean all the tourist sites we visit. On the other hand, Skopje Brewery will contribute one denar from every "Skopsko 0.5" and "Skopsko Smooth 0.5" sold in glass packaging to fund an environmental action for cleaning the lake.

"The beauties we have inherited are our pride, but also our responsibility. It is up to us and our actions to decide what we will leave for the generations to come. Join the SKOPSKO platform for clean natural resources and help us show our love for what we are proud of through action," says SKOPSKO.

More information about the campaign can be found at www.skopsko.mk.