Transition to a circular economy in the municipal waste management sector
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to improving the protection of the environment and developing circular economy and sustainable green growth in Albania. The project supports the Government of Albania (GoA) in achieving key objectives in the field of environmental protection and economic green growth, namely, 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 and green growth in Albania is initiated by an improved regulatory framework, by institutional capacities strengthened and green business models provided.
To this end, the project will focus on five outputs:
- To further align and enforce the waste legislation with the EU acquis and enable the implementation of CE, Output 1 will improve the regulatory framework for waste management and CE&GG in line with EU acquis and policy documents.
- Output 2 aims at capacity development (CD) of waste management authorities at the national and the local level. Actors at central level will be trained to implement, monitor and enforce waste management legislation and CE&GG policies and to improve the harmonization with other national agencies and the reporting to all relevant stakeholders. Furthermore for the BMZ part the project will assist AKUM in their restructuring process in the waster water sector.
- Output 3 aims at establishing and enforcing a legal system for implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for at least three specifique waste streams. A regulatory framework and financial environment will be developed that steer towards sustainable production and consumption patterns. Technical support will provide the necessary legal acts, structures, like Producer Responsible Organisations (PRO), procedures, templates and guidelines for the private sector.
- Output 4 aims at implementing CE measures for waste management services at local level. Partner municipalities will be supported in establishing and improving recycling measures.
- Furthermore for the BMZ part the project will focus as well on energy efficiency in Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP). An important focus of the project is to improve resource efficiency, eco-designing and greening of production. Output 5 aims at providing support for business, non-profit organisations and research capacities to develop innovative and gender responsive green products, services and circular business models. This includes a sub-granting scheme that will support small and medium enterprises, environmental civil society organisations (CSO), universities and researchers to develop innovative green products, services and business models which decouple economic growth from intensive virgin material consumption and will stimulate green job creation.
PROJECT IS PART OF
