Waste - Outlook 2020 (Albania)

Albania does not have any projections of future waste generation. This depends on several factors such as population growth, economic situation, consumption of goods, industry, etc.

The Intersectoral environmental strategy for waste management sets targets for the elimination of waste in illegal sites by 2012, and ensures the safe removal and disposal of 50 % of non-hazardous solid waste in controlled disposal sites by 2010, through:

• safe disposal in landfills of 75 % of hazardous waste production,
• recycling of 10 % of urban waste,
• elimination of irregular disposal phenomenon and distribution of waste in unauthorised places,
• improving the conditions of authorised waste landfills including waste reduction and fire prevention,
• disposal of 50 % of non-hazardous solid waste in planned landfills.

The GHG abatement scenario based on landfill assumes the construction of three landfills with energy recovery during the period 2010–20. The first landfill, having a capacity of 500 tonnes/day (180 000 tonnes/year), is expected to start operating in 2010. This measure will reduce GHG emissions by about 13 % compared to the baseline scenario.

The most important step during the period 2010–20 will be the construction of two other landfills (each with capacity of 300 tonnes/day), which are expected to start operating in 2020. This will reduce GHG emissions by around 30 % compared to the GHG emissions of the baseline scenario.

The GHG abatement scenario based on incineration aims to reduce GHG emissions through the incineration of waste. This process is assumed to convert all carbon into CO₂. Thus, the second abatement scenario is based on the construction of an incinerator with a capacity of 300 tonnes/day (108 000 tonnes/year) and expected to start operating in 2015.