Management Challenges and Opportunities for the Development of the E-Waste System in FBiH: Preliminary conclusions from the CETAP Project
The meetings held within the CETAP project with key stakeholders in the field of electrical and electronic waste management in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina revealed that, although the system formally exists and operates, its practical implementation faces a range of challenges. In recent years, basic mechanisms for the organized collection and treatment of this type of waste have been developed, primarily through the activities of system operators and cooperation with municipal companies. However, in practice, both technical and institutional capacities remain insufficient for a fully functional and sustainable system.
The lack of adequate infrastructure, especially in smaller municipalities, makes organized collection and treatment of e-waste difficult. Municipal companies often lack the resources and specialized equipment necessary for proper handling of this type of waste. Furthermore, public awareness of the importance of separate collection and proper disposal of electrical and electronic waste remains low, directly affecting the volumes of waste entering the system.
The need to strengthen the institutional framework, particularly in the area of inspection oversight and enforcement of existing legal obligations, was also identified. Although the legislative framework recognizes the importance of e-waste management, its implementation is often inconsistent, and the capacities of institutions to monitor and control the system are limited. Moreover, better defined and more transparent reporting and data exchange mechanisms between all stakeholders would contribute to the more efficient functioning of the system.
The results of the meetings indicate that key components for improving the situation include: investment in collection and treatment infrastructure, empowering local communities and municipal companies, continuous public education and awareness-raising, and strengthening cooperation between the public, private, and civil sectors. Equally important is the need to encourage innovative approaches and the involvement of social enterprises in the e-waste management sector.
The CETAP project recognizes these challenges and directs its activities towards strengthening the system by integrating all relevant actors, fostering dialogue, and creating sustainable models for the management of electrical and electronic waste in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
CETAP Project: Strengthening the Circular Economy in Bosnia and Herzegovina
As part of the CETAP project, key stakeholders across Bosnia and Herzegovina are joining forces to assess the current state of circular economy practices and develop strategic measures for further progress. These meetings aim to create a comprehensive Study that will identify the strengths, challenges, and opportunities in implementing circular economy principles, with a special focus on specific waste categories.
Through a series of meetings and consultations with institutions, companies, and organizations, the CETAP project team is gathering essential insights that will be crucial for developing strategies and plans for the future implementation of circular practices.
Recently, Scott Crossett, the project team leader, and Ion Nae-Musetoiu, the legal expert for the project, visited several key institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina to gather information and open discussions about opportunities for improving the circular economy:
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Bijeljina – BASWA
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Bijeljina – Association of Municipalities and Cities of Republika Srpska
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Mostar – Representative of the Environmental Protection Fund
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Sarajevo – Canton Public Utility Company
These meetings enabled the exchange of experiences and ideas among relevant stakeholders dealing with environmental protection, waste management, and the implementation of green initiatives.
At the same time, Maria Krasteva, an expert on extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, visited additional locations to engage with key stakeholders in the waste management sector:
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Livno – Canton Public Utility Company
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Tuzla – Canton Waste Management Sector
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Travnik – Canton Public Utility Company
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Ilijaš – CIBOS
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Zenica – Canton Waste Management Sector
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Zenica – Zenica Alba Canton Public Utility Company
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Sarajevo – Canton Public Utility Company
These discussions and consultations play a crucial role in shaping the Study, which will propose concrete actions and scenarios for improving circular economy practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The focus is on implementing sustainable practices that can enhance waste management, reduce environmental impact, and promote circular principles across all sectors of society.
The CETAP project is focused on strengthening the circular economy through separate collection, reuse, and recycling of waste, with goals that include achieving a more sustainable approach to waste management across the country.
The CETAP team continues to work on strengthening sustainable solutions and strategies that will shape a greener and more responsible future for Bosnia and Herzegovina. For more information about the project, follow us on our channels and continue to be part of this important process!
Project Team Visit to Zenica
The project team were in Zenica to meet with the waste management company ALBA who are responsible for the municipal waste management in the city of Zenica. It was a really interesting meeting and it was great to hear the excellent work being done by Alba in the city. They have done some really good work on raising awareness in schools and pre-schools.
It was a pleasure listening to Dr Džafer Dautbegović and his colleague Ms, Mirsada Hasanbašić. We hope to work more closely with the Zenica Canton on the waste management planning component of the project and will welcome the opportunity to have close collaboration with ALBA.
CETAP Project: Steering Committee Meeting Held in Sarajevo
The Steering Committee meeting of the CETAP (Circular Economy and Waste Management Project) project was held on March 12, 2025, in Sarajevo, with the aim of discussing the progress and strategic direction of the project. This key event gathered representatives from leading institutions and organizations to discuss the critical aspects of the project and its effective implementation in line with EU standards and the principles of circular economy.
During the meeting, participants thoroughly reviewed the Draft Progress Report covering the period from November 10, 2024, to February 14, 2025. Discussions focused on current challenges, ongoing activities, and next steps to ensure the continued efficient implementation of the project and the achievement of its planned goals. Special attention was given to improving material recovery from waste through separate collection, reuse, and recycling.
The meeting was attended by representatives from key institutions and organizations:
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Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Ministry of Environment and Tourism of the Federation of BiH
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Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction, and Ecology of the Republic of Srpska
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Government of Brčko District BiH, Department for Communal Affairs – Sub-department for Capital Investments
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Directorate for European Integration of BiH (observer in the Steering Committee)
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COWI A/S
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Umweltbundesamt – Austrian Environment Agency
The CETAP project remains committed to achieving sustainable solutions in waste management, aiming to enhance existing systems through the integration of innovative approaches to circular economy. During this meeting, the Steering Committee members once again reaffirmed their dedication to creating long-term, sustainable solutions that will have a positive impact on environmental protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
We thank all Steering Committee members for their valuable contributions to shaping a more sustainable future for our country.
Visit to Banja Luka
It was good to have our mission to the Republika Srpska this month and to meet some of the key project stakeholders from there. It was also lovely to meet our local expert from Banja Luka, Dr Drazenko Bjelic.
We had a really good programme for the week-long visit and this included meetings with the Ministry of Environment where we met Mr Dusko Solomun and Mr Marko Gajic; we also met with representatives from the Chamber of Commerce of the Republika Srpska – Mrs Dragana Kokot and Mr Marko Savić. It was really good to hear all the excellent work being done by the Chamber in regard to the Circular Economy Agenda. We had a tour round their excellent conferencing facilities and we look forward to close co-operation with them throughout the CETAP project.
In addition to those meetings we also met with representatives - Aleksandar Bajić and Vladimir Ilić -of the Banja Luka Cistoca who are responsible for municipal waste management in the Banja Luka Municipal area. It was a really helpful meeting and provided us with a detailed insight into the role of the Cistoca in the context of waste management activities and the broader interest in Circular Economy.
We had a similarly fruitful meeting with Mr Ratko Jokić, Director, DE-POT Company who operate the regional landfill of Banja Luka.
We also had an excellent meeting with Mr Zoran Lukač who hosted the meeting at the offices of the Environment Protection Fund in Banja Luka. This was our first opportunity to discuss the project with him and to explain the importance of the role to be played by the Environment Protection Fund particularly in regard to the provision of data and also the proposed hosting of the new Waste Exchange Platform to be developed under the project.
Lastly, while in Banja Luka we managed to meet with Mrs Andela Laketic, EuroBeta who explained the role that EuroBeta play in the only Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Scheme in the Republika Srpska. She explained that the system in the Republika Srpska in terms of the EPR scheme was based on non-hazardous packaging waste only. She was really informative and we learned a lot about the operation of the EPR Scheme in the Republika Srpska.
Before we left the Republika Srpska we had a couple of more meetings to attend, firstly with Boris Malinovic, Director, Promal AB Company. Mr Malinovic informed the team that his company had facilities at Brcko District and also at Bijeljina where their focus was the recycling of paper & packaging waste. They have been doing this as a family business for 15 years now. They manage plastic waste and other packaging waste but are not within the EPR scheme.
CETAP Project: First Steering Committee Meeting Held in Sarajevo
The first Steering Committee meeting of the CETAP (Circular Economy and Waste Management Project) was held on November 19, 2024, in Sarajevo. The meeting brought together key institutional representatives to discuss the initial steps and strategic direction of the project.
During the meeting, participants reviewed the Draft Initial Report, addressing key challenges, planned activities, and next steps for project implementation in alignment with EU standards and circular economy principles. The discussions focused on the project’s roadmap for the coming months, ensuring a clear path forward for its successful execution.
Main topics discussed during the meeting included:
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Introductory remarks and project objectives overview
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Presentation of the Draft Initial Report
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Discussion on the project plan for the next three months
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Interactive Q&A session
The CETAP project continues to focus on improving waste management through separate collection, reuse, and recycling, with the ultimate goal of strengthening circular economy practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This project represents a significant step toward enhancing sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of waste.
We would like to extend our gratitude to all members of the Steering Committee for their valuable contributions to this crucial process. Together, we are working towards a more sustainable future for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Project Team Leader in BiH Announced
E Scott Crossett was really delighted to be asked to take up the post of Team Leader on a new technical assistance project in Bosnia & Herzegovina. The project is a European Union funded through the IPA 2020 programme and entitled “Technical assistance for improved materials recovery from waste through separate collection, reuse and recycling based on circular economy principles”
The overall objective of the project action is to further align policies and regulations in area of waste management to achieve better protection of environment and facilitate sustainable development in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The specific objective of this contract area is to improve recovery of materials from waste through separate collections, reuse and recycling based on the principles of circular economy.
The expected outputs by the project team are:
- Output 1: A comprehensive set of legislation harmonized with the EU Waste Package is developed;
- Output 2: Policy frameworks developed that facilitate the transition towards a circular economy;
- Output 3: Feasible schemes for the collection and treatment of special categories of waste, based on circular economy principles, are defined.
The first mission to BiH was September and the team met with the Project Director Ion Nae Musetoiu from Romania. Ion, who is an expert on extended producer responsibility, s on leave from the Ministry of Environment in Bucharest to undertake this project, the team is looking forward to working with him.