Modern waste management centre starts operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Waste management centre will serve three municipalities in Tuzla canton
• Project will improve waste management standards in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Investment supported by donor funds from Sweden, European Union and bilateral donors to WBIF

A new solid waste management centre in Živinice, Bosnia and Herzegovina, officially began operating today, following several years of construction. The facility, which has been backed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Sweden, the European Union and bilateral donors to the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), is the first sanitary, EU-compliant solid waste landfill and recycling centre in Tuzla canton. It will serve the municipalities of Živinice, Banovići and Kladanj, which have a combined population of around 95,000.

The completion of this project is an important step towards improving solid waste management in the country, where illegal open dumpsites cause problems in most municipalities. At present, only six landfill sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina meet EU standards, with ten more sites needed.

This new waste management centre has a capacity of over one million cubic metres and boasts modern solid waste management processes with integrated recycling and gas management systems.

The centre will bring significant environmental benefits to the region. It will reduce environmental risks caused by groundwater and soil contamination from illegal dumpsites. In addition, by establishing proper treatment of leachate, it will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent fires.

It is also a first step towards establishing a circular economy for solid waste management in these municipalities, which should help to create more green job opportunities in the future.

The construction of the centre was financed using a €5 million loan from the EBRD, a €2.65 million grant from Sweden and a €374,000 grant from the EU and bilateral donors for supervision of the construction through the Western Balkans Investment Framework.

In order to manage the construction project, the three municipalities established a regional waste management company, Eko-Sep, and that will now be responsible for operating the centre.

Stela Melnic, the EBRD’s Head of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said: “We are committed to helping Bosnia and Herzegovina to upgrade its environmental infrastructure. Modernising waste management and increasing recycling rates are key to reducing pollution and creating opportunities in the circular economy. In addition to waste management, we are also helping the country to improve its water supply infrastructure, urban transport and district heating, and increase the energy efficiency of public buildings. Besides their significant environmental benefits, these projects also help to create jobs in the green economy and improve the quality of life of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

Birgitta Jansson, Deputy Head of Development Cooperation at the Swedish Embassy in Sarajevo, said: “Today’s inauguration of this regional waste management centre in Živinice is an important part of our joint efforts to achieve a general improvement of the environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a development that can only be beneficial to everyone. We hope that the good practices of this project will serve as a positive example to other municipalities which have yet to resolve problems around the collection, treatment and disposal of solid waste.”

Stefano Ellero, Head of Cooperation in the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, added: “The EU is proud to support this project, which brings Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to EU environmental standards while creating a healthier future for local communities. The EU has been a strong partner in supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s environmental progress. We have invested significant funds and remain committed to the sustainable development of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”