ECRAN regional workshop on coordination of strategic and investment planning in waste sector

Date: 25-26.11.2014
Place: Skopje, Macedonia
Organizer: ECRAN Secretariat with EC TAIEX Unit


EU requirements for waste management are very demanding. EU sets number of targets to be achieved by the Member States. These include:

  • Establishment of source separation system, 50% of recycling of municipal solid waste (Waste Framework Directive);
  • Diverting biodegradable waste from landfilling (Landfill Directive);
  • Recycling and recovery of packaging waste (Packaging and Packaging waste Directive).

Achievement of these targets require careful strategic planning and elaboration of national planning documents like National waste management plan, Waste prevention plan, Biodegradable waste management strategy, plans for management of other waste streams. Progress in meeting set objectives will depend on number of factors, which includes organisational, economic, financial, awareness raising and other aspects. Not at least it depends on the infrastructure solutions for waste collection, separation, recycling and recovery.

Acceding countries are facing difficult policy choices on how to achieve targets with limited public financial resources and limited affordability to pay operational costs. In such situation right technological decisions and sets of infrastructure pay significant role not only in saving scarce financial resources for investment, but also in keeping operational costs bellow agreed affordability thresholds.

Objectives of the workshop

Wider Objectives:

  • To provide practical knowledge on strategic planning and infrastructure development for achieving waste management targets as set in EU acquis

Specific objectives:

  • To establish common understanding on strategic planning requirements in waste sector;
  • To establish common understanding on links between strategic planning and technological options for support of achievement of targets;
  • To establish common understanding on role of waste management infrastructure in supporting waste separation and recycling;
  • To present and discuss experience in EU countries on establishment of infrastructure for waste management and how this supports waste separation and recycling;
  • To present and discuss how waste management infrastructure can serve achievement of targets for several directives;
  • To better understand links between selected infrastructure decisions and investment and operational costs;
  • To agree on next steps.

Expected results of the workshop

  • Improved skills in strategic waste management planning;
  • Improved understanding regarding interrelation between delivery of targets and selection of technological solutions;
  • Improved understanding regarding infrastructure solutions and impacts on financing needs.