Strengthening Waste Management

Waste management in Kosovo* has big problems and falls far short of meeting Western European standards. While about 90 - 95 % of the urban population has a waste collection system the existing services are of a very low standard due to the lack of adequate facilities and equipment. Kosovo lacks proper waste management for virtually all solid waste types: domestic, industrial, health care, and hazardous. Waste collection, classification, recycling, and treatment systems, as well as infrastructure for municipal waste, are missing or where rudimentary provision is made it fails to meet even a basic satisfactory level of service. Data and accessible waste information systems are paltry. Cost recovery for services is low. A significant proportion of rubbish of various categories but especially domestic waste, and in particular in rural areas, is thrown away on illegal dumpsites or at various unauthorised places. Appropriately constructed and operated hazardous waste facilities are lacking.

A programme to respond to this catalogue of deficiencies by improving the management of waste will result in significant health, environmental as well as economic benefits. To this end, WBIF has provided grant support.

The project concerns strengthening solid waste management capacity by addressing all pertinent issues including technical, financial, institutional and legal aspects of waste management. There are four components aimed at determining the economic viability of priority improvements and long term strategic plans for waste management improvement. A EUR 400,000 grant is provided by WBIF, which will finance the production of pre-feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments for investments to improve collection and disposal infrastructure for domestic solid waste management and for the clean-up of local waste dumpsites, the preparation of a national plan for industrial and hazardous waste management and the preparation plan for reform of the waste management sector, including the legal framework.

This project is classed a WBIF sector development project - SDP, and as such the findings should have lessons and policy principals that can be spread farther afield. Given that the waste problems found in Kosovo are, if not as acute, prevalent in many the region’s countries, the project’s findings should be considered as a means of helping sort their waste disposal.

The project started in February 2013 and the ultimate benefits should be significant for all Kosovo’s 33 municipalities.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.