From policy to practice: Law on Waste and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
The Law on Waste and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) event brought together key stakeholders, experts, local businesses, and Green School students to discuss how the new Law on Waste and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) can strengthen efforts toward a greener Kosovo.
On Friday, the event was opened by HE Rainer Rudolph, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Kosovo, who highlighted Germany’s continued partnership in supporting Kosovo’s green transition.
“The goals of our cooperation in this area are clear: a healthier environment for the people of Kosovo through less landfills, more recycling and better resource use,”
said Ambassador Rudolph during his opening remarks at the event.
The event presented the new institutes of the draft Law on Integrated Waste Management, with a particular focus on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), as a practical tool for Kosovo’s circular economy journey.
Agim Mazreku, External Advisor at the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, provided an overview of the new Law on Waste. The presentation was followed by an engaging open discussion, bringing together legal, technical, and business perspectives on effective waste management practices.
A presentation on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Solutions with a focus on textiles and packaging was delivered by Nicole Kösegi, Senior Expert on Circular Economy from Germany. She was followed by Fritz Flanderka, EPR Expert and representative of the Reclay Group, Germany, who shared valuable insights in his presentation on Building Effective EPR Systems - Lessons from Reclay.
The next session featured an open discussion, fostering dialogue among policymakers, producers, and waste management organizations on implementation challenges and practical opportunities for Kosovo.
In the afternoon session, attention turned to youth engagement in Kosovo’s green transition. During the Green Summer School Certificate Handover, Marianne Alker, Programme Manager at GIZ Kosovo, recognized the contributions of young participants committed to advancing sustainable development.
Supported by the German Government through #GIZKosovo, the event highlighted the importance of cooperation between institutions, businesses, and communities to turn policy into sustainable practice.