The EU4CELC project supports Albania’s transition from a linear to a circular waste management system and empowers today’s municipalities to build the cities of tomorrow with sustainable and climate-neutral infrastructure standards and public services to protect the environment. Commissioned by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ Albania in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environment (MoE), the project strengthens national and local capacities to align with the EU acquis (Chapter 27), the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan.

Nationally, it advances EPR schemes for packaging, WEEE, and batteries; enhances digital, gender‑sensitive data collection and enforcement by the National Environmental Agency; and establishes PROs with procedures and guidelines. Locally, it collaborates with 15 municipalities to improve service delivery through waste prevention, high recycling rates and composting. The project mobilises a Financing Mechanism for LGUs and grant schemes for private sector participation to stimulate green services and circular business models to extend the lifecycle of products, reduce the demand for resources and minimise environmental impacts. EU4CELC improves the living conditions of Albanian citizens and creates employment opportunities in the urban context along circular value chains for a prosperous Albania.

• Align Albania’s waste management regulatory framework with EU requirements, including Directive‑specific implementation plans and economic instruments for waste prevention and separation.
• Strengthen institutional capacities of MoE, NEA and AKEM for gender‑sensitive, digital data management, monitoring and enforcement to enable evidence‑based decisions.
• Establish and operationalise EPR schemes for packaging, WEEE, and batteries, including legal acts, PROs creation, procedures, templates and guidelines.
• Improve municipal waste and resource management services in 15 partner municipalities, prioritising waste prevention, recycling, and composting.
• Catalyse private sector, non‑profit and academia participation by grant schemes, fostering innovative, gender‑responsive circular products, services and green business models.

• EU-aligned regulatory and economic framework adopted and operational, including measures for waste prevention and source separation.
• EPR schemes for packaging, WEEE and batteries launched, with at least one functioning PRO and clear producer/operator procedures.
• NEA and AKUK operate professionalised, digital and gender-sensitive data systems for monitoring, reporting and enforcement.
• Municipal service delivery improved in 15 municipalities with higher recycling/composting rates and reduced residual waste.
• Financing Mechanism and grant schemes deployed with at least 70 SMEs, start-ups and NGOs supported; 120 new green jobs created, of which 62% are women and 36% youth.