Current waste management practices in North Macedonia primarily focus on waste collection and final disposal. The solid waste generated is disposed at non-engineered dumpsites without implementation of appropriate control measures. The treatment of Municipal Solid Waste and source-separation of recyclables is limited. This causes significant adverse impacts on the environment such as pollution of soils, surface and groundwater sources and greenhouse gas emissions.

The SECO-EBRD North Macedonia Solid Waste Management Project Phase II (the ""Project"") aims to establish an integrated solid waste (SW) management system in the country to reduce adverse impacts to environment, improve the waste management services for citizens and lay the foundations for a circular economy.The Project will support the reform of the SW sector, which includes the establishment of a Solid Waste Regulatory body at national level and the provision of technical assistance to regional and communal public utilities in the regions of Pelagonia and South-West (PSW), Vardar and South-East (VSE) and Polog. Furthermore, it will support the essential modernization of the solid waste infrastructure in the 5 above mentioned regions. To this end, the EBRD and other donors will contribute EUR 64.3 million in loans and grants, and SECO will contribute CHF 9 million in grants.

Through its technical assistance at national, regional and communal levels and its investment activities, SECO’s contribution to the Project is expected to provide the following outcomes:

1. The Regional Public Utilities (RPUs) as well as the Local Public Utilities (LPUs) and the municipalities of PSW, VSE and Polog manage regional landfills in a more sustainable manner according to EU and national standards.

2. The Polog SW management system is established and operational according to EU standards and national SW legislation.

3. The CO2 emissions of the Rusino landfill in the Polog region are reduced by remediating the sanitary landfill, capturing and combusting of landfill gas.

Risultati principali attesi:  

1.1 The Rusino landfill, the transfer station and the methane flaring system are built

3.1 The Solid Waste Regulatory body is established.

3.2 Tariff reform proposals are provided.

3.3 Formal training, coaching and study tours are provided to regional RPUs Municipalities and LPUs to operate, monitor, maintain and ensure financial sustainability of SW infrastructure.

Risultati fasi precedenti:  

The project phase I put in place framework conditions to support the establishment of an integrated solid waste (SW) management system in the Polog region. The Project Phase I comprised three components: 1) the elaboration of a regional waste management plan in Polog and the provision of quick win investments in selected municipalities- 2) the undertaking of preparatory works to refurbish the regional landfill in Rusino and 3) the development of the organizational and financial set-up for the launching of a regional public utility for solid waste management in Polog. The three components are now almost completed. These will facilitate the initiation of future SW investments and technical assistance at national, regional and municipal levels. SECO phase I helped leverage an investment of EUR 64.3 million from EBRD and other donors for phase II.