Context
Serbia has committed to bringing its environmental legislation into line with European Union rules as part of its efforts to join the union. 90 per cent of environmental laws are implemented at local level. However, Serbia's local authorities do not have the expertise that they need for environmental management to be geared towards the circular economy.
At present, not a single local authority has adopted this approach in its waste and wastewater management. As a result, almost all waste is landfilled improperly or recycled very inefficiently. Local authorities thus squander potential revenues from using waste resources. The country does not have a national wastewater strategy, has hardly any wastewater treatment plants and its sewage sludge treatment is unsatisfactory. Most wastewater runs straight into local waters untreated or seeps into the ground. This invariably causes long-term pollution of soil, groundwater and local and transboundary waters, to the detriment of people and the environment.
Objective
National and local institutions (local authorities) put in place the conditions needed to introduce waste and wastewater management that is geared towards the circular economy and is environmentally sustainable, socially balanced and cost-efficient.
Approach
The project is encouraging the use of resources from waste and wastewater, especially from sewage sludge, in selected pilot municipalities. Local authorities receive significant support in introducing a circular economy. The aim is to demonstrate that an adapted environmental policy can become a valuable economic factor. The project supports partnerships between local authorities through regional solutions. It also helps local authorities to develop investment projects that are ready for bank financing or are designed to attract private investment. It encourages the development of circular economy strategies in combination with municipal environmental communication and public participation activities. This step aims to make people more interested in environmental protection in local authorities. Municipal services with broad popular approval are also to be put in place. Activities in the pilot areas are to send a strong message, including to other local authorities and regions in Serbia.
At national level, the project advises national institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Economy, the Serbian Environmental Protection Agency, the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, representatives of minorities and the recycling association, on issues such as circular economy planning, adapting EU laws to the Serbian context, including vulnerable minorities, financing plants and involving the public in environmental planning.
Results
In five pilot municipalities, the project strengthened the management skills of local authorities and public utilities, enabling them to plan, implement and introduce new waste and wastewater systems. The project was the first in Serbia to systematically support the use of material flow analysis (MFA) at local authority level to develop adapted scenarios for new waste and wastewater management systems.
Other Serbian local authorities are now using this planning tool. With public involvement, local authorities choose one of the scenarios, which is then used to develop a new material flow management system. The project aims to promote the different, interconnected areas of municipal infrastructure, such as waste, wastewater and energy supply. After a feasibility study is conducted, the selected option is turned into a detailed bankable plan that is ready for financing. Local authorities receive support in building plants and putting them into operation.
Further information
• Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia
http://www.mpzzs.gov.rs/
• Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Serbia
http://www.privreda.gov.rs/
• Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection
http://www.ekourb.vojvodina.gov.rs/
• Serbian Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM)
http://www.skgo.org/
• Green Serbia Chamber of Commerce
http://www.pkzs.rs/
• Videos on environmental protection
http://www.youtube.com/user/gizserbiaimpact