The EU-funded CETAP project continues to advance Bosnia and Herzegovina’s journey toward a circular economy. As part of this momentum, an expert mission was conducted in March 2025 across several regions, providing invaluable on-the-ground insights into local waste management practices, infrastructure, and stakeholder engagement.

On-the-Ground Engagement Across the Federation and Republika Srpska

Led by international expert Maria Krasteva from Environment Agency Austria, the mission covered key municipalities in both entities, including Canton 10 (Livno), Tuzla, Zenica, Travnik, and Banja Luka. The objective was to assess the current state of waste generation, collection, and treatment—with a focus on special categories such as e-waste, used tyres, batteries, and End-of-Life Vehicles (EoLVs).

Site visits and interviews were conducted with:

• Public Utility Companies (PUCs) in Livno, Tuzla, Travnik, and Zenica
• Private scrap and recycling operators
• Metal reprocessing firms (e.g., Cibos)
• Local environmental authorities
• The Chamber of Commerce of Republika Srpska
• Regional landfill and sorting facilities in Sarajevo
  

Key Findings

1. Varying Levels of Readiness: The mission revealed significant regional differences in capacity and infrastructure for waste collection and recycling. Some cantons have initiated dual collection systems, while others still rely heavily on mixed waste disposal.

2. Challenges in Special Waste Categories: Consistent issues were raised around handling of EoLVs, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), and tyres—largely due to fragmented responsibilities, insufficient enforcement, and lack of data.

3. Resource Constraints and Investment Needs: Across both public and private stakeholders, a common concern was the limited financial and technical capacity to implement advanced waste recovery solutions without external support.

4. Strong Willingness to Cooperate: Encouragingly, all stakeholders expressed readiness to participate in technical working groups and to align their strategies with CETAP’s goals.
   

Looking Ahead

The mission outcomes will directly inform the development of the Study on the Market Potential for Circular Economy Application, feeding into the assessment of market potential for circular economy principles. Follow-up actions include:

• Establishment of a dedicated Technical Working Group by the end of April.

• Finalisation of activity plans to support legal harmonisation and local implementation.

• Continued collaboration on waste data collection and planning support for municipal partner.

Collaboration in Action

CETAP’s hands-on approach—combining policy planning with deep community engagement—is already proving instrumental in tailoring solutions to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s unique context. The March mission reinforced the need for integrated action across government levels, industry, and civil society to make the circular economy a functional reality.

To stay updated on future activities and reports, visit www.cetap.ba/en/news.