81301769-Transition to a circular economy in the municipal waste management sector in Albania

In July 2022, the EU opened accession negotiations with Albania and is examining the extent to which Albanian law needs to be adapted to EU legislation. Although 70% of household waste is collected, only 17% is recycled. More than 50% of the waste is of organic origin, but is not used to create added value, but is disposed of in landfills or unregulated dumpsites. The collected wastewater is mostly discharged untreated into influent waters, resulting in massive pollution of groundwater, rivers, and the Adriatic Sea. For the transition from a linear waste and wastewater management to a sustainable circular economy, a better basic understanding of circular economy principles, their implementation in concrete measures by efficient national and local authorities, a better participation of the private sector, but also an improved environmental behaviour of the population is essential. The project supports the Government of Albania (GoA) and the Ministry of Environment in achieving key objectives to accelerate the transformation to a circular economy, improving energy efficiency, contribute to job creation and improving citizens" health. The specific objective of the project is that the transition towards a circular economy in Albania is initiated by an improved regulatory framework, by institutional capacities strengthened and green business models provided. In other words the legal and financial foundations for the transition to a sustainable circular economy for waste and wastewater management have been created.