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.
Inception Workshop Kicks Off EU-Funded Project “Technical assistance for improved materials recovery from waste through separate collection, reuse and recycling based on circular economy principles”
In an effort to advance Bosnia and Herzegovina's waste management practices and align them with EU standards, EU-funded project “Technical assistance for improved materials recovery from waste through separate collection, reuse and recycling based on circular economy principles” officially launched on October 28, 2024 in Sarajevo with an Inception Workshop, setting the stage for an ambitious 32-month initiative. The workshop brought together stakeholders from across sectors to discuss the project’s purpose, objectives, and anticipated outcomes in advancing the principles of a circular economy.
The event opened with remarks from an EU Delegation representative Renata Abduzaimović, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices and waste reduction for the future development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Project Consortium lead COWI representative Helle Qwist-Hoffmann followed with an introduction to the project, noting the initiative’s role in addressing critical environmental and economic challenges through improved materials recovery.
Project Team Leader Scott Crossett provided an overview of the project’s primary activities, focusing on three key areas: developing a regulatory framework for waste management, implementing pilot actions to improve waste recovery and recycling, and raising public awareness around sustainable waste practices. Each of these components was then explored in greater depth, with the project’s legal, economic, and awareness experts outlining the strategies and expected impacts in their respective areas.
Legal Expert Ionut Musetoiu presented the methodology for regulatory alignment, detailing plans to update Bosnia and Herzegovina’s waste policies to meet EU standards. Following this, the Economic Expert Vedad Suljić highlighted the project's approach to implementing pilot actions, explaining how these initiatives will demonstrate effective waste recovery and recycling strategies within a circular economy model. Rounding out the agenda, the Awareness Raising Expert Lejla Sahačić discussed the project’s public engagement approach, aimed at cultivating a stronger understanding of sustainable waste practices across the country.
The participants of the workshop were representatives of relevant institutions: Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sector for Waste Management at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and Ecology (RS), Department for Spatial Planning and Property legal affairs of Brčko District, Chambers of Commerce, utility companies, private companies, and many other institutions and organizations.
The workshop closed with a question-and-answer session that allowed participants to gain further insights into the project’s technical approach and anticipated milestones. Attendees also took advantage of a post-session networking lunch, exchanging ideas and establishing connections that will strengthen collaboration as the project progresses. The inception workshop marked an important milestone in the drive towards a sustainable future for Bosnia and Herzegovina, underscoring the critical role of EU partnerships in this journey toward a more resilient, resource-efficient economy.
