As Bosnia and Herzegovina continues its transition toward a circular economy, the CETAP project is building the knowledge, partnerships and policy groundwork needed to reform waste management across the country. In March 2025, financial and legislative expert Mihail Asenov led a mission to deepen the project’s understanding of economic structures, policy alignment, and the role of extended producer responsibility (EPR) in driving change.

Bridging Policy, Practice and the Market

The mission, carried out between 9–20 March, engaged with over a dozen stakeholders across Sarajevo, Banja Luka, and Brčko District, including ministries, environmental funds, producer responsibility organisations (PROs), and private sector actors. These meetings revealed critical opportunities and obstacles in aligning Bosnia and Herzegovina’s systems with the EU Waste Package and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

Key Highlights and Learnings

• Waste Exchange Platform Development: Consultations with the Environmental Protection Funds of both entities confirmed institutional interest in hosting a national waste exchange platform. Discussions covered technical, financial, and governance considerations.

• EPR System Fragmentation: The mission highlighted inconsistencies in EPR fee collection, reporting, and enforcement. Stakeholders identified a need for regulatory harmonisation, improved oversight, and greater transparency—especially in the packaging and e-waste sectors.

• Market Realities and Data Gaps: Many PROs reported underfunding, unclear legal responsibilities, and significant gaps in data quality and waste tracking. Several called for reforms to ensure open tendering and the inclusion of more private collectors.

• Government Engagement: Ministries from both the Federation and Republika Srpska expressed commitment to legislative alignment with EU directives. However, capacity building and clearer implementation pathways are still needed.

• Chambers and Collaboration: The Chamber of Economy of FBiH welcomed the opportunity to play a coordinating role in circular economy planning, especially around awareness raising and training.

Next Steps

Based on the mission’s outcomes, the following actions are underway:

• Formation of a Finance, Economy and Market Working Group by the end of April.

• Drafting of the Study on Market Potential for circular economy transition.

• Development of coordinated plans for EPR reform and economic instrument alignment.

• Preparation of the next mission, scheduled for late April.

Laying the Economic Foundation for Circularity

This mission provided essential insight into the economic and legal conditions underpinning Bosnia and Herzegovina’s circular economy potential. As the CETAP project progresses, these findings will inform not only strategic planning but also practical recommendations for building a robust, harmonised, and financially viable system for waste recovery and recycling.

To learn more and follow the progress of CETAP, visit www.cetap.ba/en/news.