Western Balkans Struggle to Meet EU Waste Rules

The Western Balkans lag far behind EU waste standards. Landfills are still the main way they handle trash. Recycling facilities are scarce and uneven. This makes the region’s waste picture far from the EU’s clean target.

Researchers applied the PROMETHEE II decision tool to rank five countries. They used four Eurostat numbers from 2022: waste per person, waste per GDP unit, recycling rate, and total waste per person. Each factor got the same importance. A sensitivity test showed the rankings held steady.

Albania ranked first because its waste intensity was low and recycling was relatively high. Montenegro finished last with the weakest scores. All five nations fell far short of the EU benchmark of 49.1% recycling. The gap shows a clear need for better systems.

The authors say separate collection must expand. Modern sorting and treatment plants should be built. Policies need to align with EU circular economy goals. Without these changes, sustainable waste management stays out of reach.