The journey towards a circular economy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is well underway. With support from the European Union, the CETAP project continues to drive forward initiatives that strengthen waste management systems, promote reuse and recycling, and build a culture of sustainability. 

Covering the period 15th February – 31st May 2025, the second quarterly progress report highlights major milestones, challenges addressed, and our roadmap for the months ahead.

Key Achievements During the Quarter

1. Launch of Thematic Working Groups

During April we held inaugural meetings of CETAP’s four Thematic Working Groups, each addressing a core pillar of the project:

• Legal & Policy
  
• Technical Solutions
  
• Education & Awareness
  
• Economics & Markets

These groups bring together diverse stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and civil society. Their role is to shape and guide decision-making, ensuring every perspective is considered as BiH works towards aligning its systems with EU waste and circular economy legislation.

2. Assessment of Market Potential for Circular Economy Transition

A central focus of this quarter was the continual delivery of Activity 1.1 – assessing the market potential for applying circular economy principles to special categories of waste.

Key steps achieved included:

• Regulatory review: Mapping and translating national legislation to align with the EU Waste Package.
  
• Stakeholder mapping: Identifying institutions, businesses, universities, and financial actors relevant to the transition.
  
• Producer mapping: Cataloguing producers of special waste categories (such as WEEE, ELVs, batteries, tyres, and construction & demolition waste).
  
• Capacity evaluation: Reviewing waste management utilities and companies to understand their readiness to expand recycling and reuse.
  
• Economic analysis: Draft reports on financial instruments, investor interest, and EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) schemes. 

The final Study on Market Potential will present scenarios for BiH’s transition, offering policy, financial, and operational pathways to circularity.

3. Capacity Building Foundations

The team prepared an introductory training programme for environmental ministries, municipal authorities, and other key stakeholders. Training modules cover:

• EU waste and circular economy policy frameworks
  
• Benefits and best practices of circular economies
  
• Steps required to drive institutional and regulatory change
  

These sessions were delivered throughout June, and aim to build a shared understanding of the circular transition at all levels of governance.

4. Waste Exchange Platform Preparations

Another milestone was progress on the Waste Exchange Platform—a digital solution designed to connect suppliers of secondary raw materials with industries that can reuse them.

Highlights included:

• Engagement with the RS and FBiH Environmental Funds.
  
• Establishment of a dedicated working group.
  
• Drafting of technical criteria for secondary raw materials.
  
• Initial discussions on hosting, governance, and quality control mechanisms. 

The platform is envisioned as a cornerstone of a functioning recycling market in BiH, reducing reliance on landfills and illegal dumping.

5. Public Awareness Campaign – First Draft

CETAP’s communication team completed the first draft of a nationwide awareness campaign strategy, scheduled to launch in November 2025.

The campaign will combine digital, broadcast, outdoor, and community actions, highlighting best practices and success stories from across BiH. Its step-by-step approach—shifting citizens from awareness to action—aims to build public ownership of the circular economy agenda.

Communication & Visibility Success

CETAP’s digital presence grew significantly this quarter:

• Our Facebook followers doubled, and if you don’t follow us already on Facebook you can do so here: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectCETAP/ 
• Our Instagram began to take shape with regular posts published, follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/projectcetap/ 
• Website traffic surged: During April and May our website saw over 25,000 page hits, marking the site as a central hub for information and engagement. You can follow all our updates here: https://cetap.ba/novosti/

This growing online footprint is an encouraging sign ahead of the nationwide awareness campaign. And we would like to thank everyone who is supporting the project!

Looking Ahead

The next reporting period will focus on:

• Finalising the Market Potential Study (Activity 1.1) and presenting findings to the Steering Committee.
  
• Delivering capacity building training (Activity 1.2) across BiH.
  
• Drafting legal acts for EU alignment (Activity 1.3) and supporting municipal/cantonal waste management planning (Activity 1.4).
  
• Advancing the Waste Exchange Platform (Activity 2.1) through technical development and stakeholder coordination.
  
• Finalising the Public Awareness Campaign Strategy (Activity 3.1) for rollout later this year.
  

With stakeholder engagement strong and timelines on track, the CETAP project is entering a decisive phase where plans are transformed into action.

Conclusion

The second quarterly report reflects a project gaining real momentum. From regulatory mapping and producer analysis to awareness campaigns and digital engagement, CETAP is laying the groundwork for a more sustainable and resource-efficient Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The transition to a circular economy is complex, requiring legal, economic, technical, and cultural shifts. Yet, as this quarter has shown, the foundations are being steadily built—and the country is moving closer to a future where waste is no longer an endpoint but a valuable resource.