In 2020, Serbia generated 2.95 million tons of municipal waste. According to the data of the Environmental Protection Agency, 79.45% of municipal waste was disposed of in landfills. There is no systematic waste treatment before landfilling. The average coverage of municipal waste collection is 86.4%.
- In Serbia, the recycling rate is 15.45% (new methodology SEPA), or 455,457 tons of municipal waste recycled in 2020.
- Less than 2% of household waste is recycled.
- In EU, 48 % of municipal waste was recycled (material recycling and composting) in 2020.
EU waste policy aims to contribute to the circular economy by extracting high-quality resources from waste as much as possible. The European Green Agenda for Western Balkans aims to promote growth by transitioning to a modern, resource-efficient and competitive circular economy. In line with EU policies, and in the frame of EU accession, Serbia has adopted the Waste Management Program for period 2022 – 2031, published at the Official Gazette 12/2022 on 1st February 2022. Serbia Waste Management Program 2022-2031 aims at improved municipal waste management system through (1) increased recycling rate (2) reduced disposal of biodegradable waste in landfills and (3) reduced disposal of waste in unsanitary landfills. Objectives are:
- Increasing the recycling rate of municipal waste to a total of 25% by weight by 2025 and 35% by 2030;
- Increase the rate of preparation for reuse and recycling of municipal waste to a minimum of 55% by weight by the end of 2025 and a minimum of 60% by weight by the end of 2030;
- Reduction of disposal of biodegradable waste in landfills by 2028, to 75% of the total amount of biodegradable waste generated in 2008;
- By the end of 2029, a separate collection of at least paper, metal, plastic, glass and textiles to have been established
- Increase the bio-waste recycling rate to 20% by 2025 and 40% by 2029;
- Increase the recycling rate of paper and cardboard to 25% by 2025 and 35% by 2029;
- Reduction of waste disposal in unsanitary landfills to 0% by 2034.
To support Serbia in implementation of its waste strategy for the benefit of citizens across the country, the EU and Sweden are helping the Ministry of Environment to launch a massive action to improve the separation of recyclable materials in municipal solid waste in four regions Duboko, Pirot, Srem-Mačva and Pančevo.
- In these 4 regions 215,000 tons of waste is collected per year.
- Up to 70,000 tons could be recycled and diverted from landfill.
17 municipalities are part of the 4 regions: Pančevo, Sremska Mitrovica, Šabac, Šid, Bogatić, Užice, Čačak, Ivanjica, Čajetina, Požega, Lučani, Bajina Bašta, Kosjerić, Pirot, Babušnica, Bela Palanka and Dimitrovgrad.The Project for Household Waste Separation expertise and investment in equipment for local authorities to design and upgrade waste source separation systems.
The EU investment of 6 Million euros provides:
- 26 waste collection vehicles
- more than 90,000 containers and bins
- organize public information campaign, based on studies and public opinion surveys
Serbian national institutions and local self-governments are co-financing the project with 1.8 million euros. They, and the citizens will be the owners and operators of the future systems. Sweden has provided technical to central and local authorities to enable a successful preparation, introduction and operations of the new waste source separation services. A specific communication expertise is in place to build awareness and inform the citizens of the 17 cities and municipalities about how the new recycling services will operate and what is expected from citizens.
Activities will start in early 2022 successively per municipalities and regions.