Balkan waste management faces systemic challenges

Various regions across the Balkans are facing significant challenges and transitions regarding waste management and the implementation of a circular economy. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, experts highlight that approximately one billion kilograms of waste are currently sitting in landfills, representing a lost economic opportunity for fuel and raw material production.

In Slovenia, discussions have focused on how to better reintegrate materials into the economy, noting that while collection has improved, the transition to a circular model requires clearer regulations and better secondary raw material markets. Meanwhile, in Croatia, experts warn that the country lacks sufficient processing and treatment capabilities for the waste it collects, despite having various management centers.

Local issues also persist, such as illegal dumping of construction waste in Mraclin and Kotoriba, and shifts in waste disposal logistics near Split, where several municipalities have ceased using the Karepovac site. To address these systemic needs, there is a growing emphasis on environmental engineering and technological solutions, such as waste-to-energy systems being integrated into maritime vessels.