REGIONAL APPROACH OF WASTE MANAGEMENT IN NORTH MACEDONIA

Waste management still is a very big environmental problem in North Macedonia. Level of recycling and waste recovery has been increasing slowly and most portion of waste is deposited at the landfills, which is the least suitable option of waste treatment. There are 55 landfills that do not meet EU and national standards. In 2005 it was adopted National waste management plan, which stipulates regional approach in combating of waste problems. This is confirmed in National waste management strategy 2010-2020 and in the numbers of laws and documents, but the results are week. In 2018 Central government started with the activities to revitalise the orientation of regional approach on waste management, which creates a big opportunity for creation a sustainable waste management. In North Macedonia there are 8 administrative planning regions. The regional approach covers waste management operation in all eight regions, by establishing waste regional centres. The EU has given support for feasibility studies and other documentations which analyse amount and structure of waste and give solutions for creation of regional centres. This should enable that 75% of waste will be recycled and recovered and only about 25% of waste will be sent at the landfills. The regional approach of waste management is based on the experiences of the EU. Nowadays a significant part of preconditions are fulfilled to start activities for establishment of regional waste management centres. The main aim of this paper is to research and to analyse the complex activities for establishing regional waste management in the country and to give some recommendations.