In Albania, waste management is a major challenge, impacting the quality of life, ecosystem preservation, climate change mitigation, and the country’s economic and tourist attractiveness. With significant progress in legislation, regulations, and the recent construction of new infrastructure, the effective implementation of an integrated waste management system, based on circular economy principles, is a priority for the government.

As a candidate for EU membership since 2014, Albania officially began accession negotiations in July 2022. Waste management is a key issue for alignment with the EU, particularly under Chapter 27 of the negotiations (Environment and Climate Change) opened in September 2025.


Under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III), the EU has delegated the management of the investment component of the "EU for Circular Economy and Green Growth – Regional Waste Management programme’’ (EU4CE - ReWaM) to AFD. This operation, financed by a €19 million European grant, is taking place in two waste management zones (WMZ) in the Kukës and Gjirokastër/Vlora-South regions, and includes:

- Improving and creating waste treatment infrastructure that complies with EU standards.
- Closing non-compliant landfills.

The programme is divided into two phases: Phase 1: studies and Phase 2: implementation.

• The establishment of an integrated and sustainable regional solid waste management system in the Kukës and Gjirokastër–South Vlora areas, aimed at optimising waste transfer and treatment, reducing environmental and social impacts, and modernising infrastructure in line with European standards.
• The promotion of circular economy initiatives within the two intervention areas.
• The strengthening of sector governance and the capacities of the relevant national and local institutions to ensure the long-term sustainability of waste management and circular economy infrastructure and equipment.

• A reduction in the volume of waste sent to landfill.
• The development of waste transfer and treatment infrastructure compliant with European standards.
• The promotion of circular economy initiatives, with a particular focus on the recovery and recycling of plastics and cardboard.
• A reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants generated by the waste sector, through the closure and rehabilitation of non-compliant dumpsites and the construction of infrastructure for the collection and treatment of liquid and gaseous effluents.