Waste management programme in the Republic of Serbia for the period 2022-2031.

Based on the provisions of the Law on planning system of the Republic of Serbia, as part of the EU accession negotiations, the Republic of Serbia, through Chapter 27, has begun the process of establishing a waste management system and adapting it to the goals and acquis of the EU, here adopted the Waste management programme in the Republic of Serbia for the period from the year 2022 until the year 2031. The program establishes strategic goals for the improvement of the waste management system and the basic principles that should guide all actors in waste management to achieve those goals in the Republic of Serbia for the period 2022-2031. The implementation of this program, in addition to reducing the harmful impact on the environment and climate change, should enable the realization of prerequisites for the use of waste in a circular economy, the development of which goals and measures are determined in a separate program. Also, special documents are drawn up for the establishment of a waste sludge management system from a waste water treatment plant and for dealing with animal by-products. The management of agricultural, mining and medical and pharmaceutical waste is planned in sectoral planning documents.
To achieve the general goal of the Programme, the following special goals are established: Special objective 1: Improved municipal waste management system through increased recycling rate, reduced disposal of biodegradable waste in landfills and reduced disposal of waste in unsanitary landfills. Specific objective 2: Established system of sustainable management of hazardous and industrial waste. Specific objective 3: Increased rate of collection, reuse and recycling of specific waste streams and more efficient use of resources. Special objective 4. Strengthened capacity of institutions in the field of waste management and harmonized regulation with EU regulations.
In order to achieve the vision, general and specific goals of the Program, in accordance with the relevant EU directives regarding waste management and according to the prepared implementation plans that analyzed different scenarios, a concept was developed for the establishment of a functional system with the application of the principles of the circular economy and the development of the market for recycled materials. This implies full compliance with the requirements of the EU Directives and the realization of the obligations undertaken in the EU accession process. Further harmonization of regulations, adoption of amendments and additions to the law on waste management and the law on packaging and packaging waste and relevant bylaws is needed. The necessary reforms relate to the strengthening of existing administrative capacities, especially the capacities of institutions and bodies responsible for planning, control, supervision, reporting and certification, as well as the establishment of close cooperation between the Ministry, APV and LGUs for the purpose of technical support and administrative assistance. as well as for the realization of economic instruments, raising public awareness, creating and managing an information system. Also, in order to establish an integrated waste management system, it is necessary to build appropriate infrastructure, establish waste management systems for different types of waste, apply appropriate economic instruments and ensure sustainable financing of those systems. In order to determine the scope of the necessary measures to achieve the established goals by 2031, the entire necessary infrastructure for the establishment of an integrated waste management system was reviewed (among inclusion if circular economy concepts and plastic waste reduction rules), which would enable the Republic of Serbia to fully implement the requirements of EU Directives in the long term.