Reference

Main content

Law No 9010 of 13 February 2003 on the environmental management of solid waste

Law No 9537 of 18 May 2006 on hazardous waste management

Law No 8934 of 5 September 2002 on environmental protection

Regulation No 6 of 30 November 2007 on clinical waste management

Regulation No 1 of 30 March 2007 on treatment of construction waste from generation, transport to their disposal

Directive No 6 of 27 November 2007 on on the approval of rules, contents and terms for preparation of plans on solid waste management

This Law consists of nine chapters:

1. General provisions
2. Prevention of pollution from solid waste
3. Waste treatment by type
4. Solid waste management committee
5. Environmental permission
6. Import, export and transit of waste
7. Waste management monitoring
8. Control
9. Sanctions

This Law designates the norms that regulate safe hazardous waste management and its collection, transport, recovery, treatment, disposal and export.

Chapter III, Use and protection of environmental, contains Article 20 on waste management

This Regulation designates the rules and controls on the production, collection, transfer, storage, and disposal of clinical waste to ensure the protection of public health and the environment

This Regulation stipulates the waste management processes in construction fields, establishing solid rules and requirements for all operations in the field of construction and for the treatment of wastes generated there.

This Directive designates the rules, contents and terms for the preparation of:

—  National Plans

—  Regional Plans

—  Municipal Plans

Period of implementation

Main content

2006

National Environment Strategy

This strategy determines the need to compile national and regional plans on waste management for the short, middle and long term. The plans should include:

—      efficient and appropriate procedures for the collection and transport of waste,

—      an inventory of existing sites for waste disposal, site situation and improvement plans,

—      affordable standards on the construction of waste landfills that minimise pollution,

—      mechanisms to increase incomes from waste collection,

—      steps to increase public awareness on the damage caused by the indiscrimination disposal of waste

Period of Implementation

Main content

1998

The National Waste Management Plan, 1998, included measures for solid, urban, industrial and hospital waste management and the rehabilitation of existing uncontrolled dumpsites. The plan also contained a budget to identify appropriate solutions for landfill.

2010–25

The draft National Waste Plan proposes:

—      The division of Albania into 12 Waste Areas on the basis of the existing district administrative boundaries. Each waste area having a waste solution relevant to the specific needs of that area and each waste area having a waste area profile.

—      The formation of 12 Waste Area Groups consisting of members drawn from the Districts and Municipalities as well as a representative from each of the Regional Environment Agencies. The District will be the coordinating body and will be responsible, through the municipalities, for the dissemination of information to the communes within the waste area.

—      The development of area/regional waste plans which will outline the existing capacities and resource needs of each waste area. Waste areas can work together to achieve economies of scale if that is a practical and sustainable option given the restraints of geography, terrain, seasonal climate and local politics. The area waste plans can be considered as a resource for the Ministry of Public Works to focus its spending by targeting specific areas where the international community is absent or, obviously, vice versa.

—      The formalisation of a National Waste Advisory Group to be drawn from both national and regional bodies. This group, consisting of about 25 members, would be a government advisory group on policy and future strategy.

—      The identification of priority waste streams and the development of project files in order that the international donor community can consider funding these priority project areas.

The draft National Plan on Waste Management 2010–25, produced in 2009, foresees the construction of regional municipal waste landfills in 12 areas. Some of them are under construction, others are undergoing feasibility studies.

The draft National Plan includes:

—      The strengthening the institutional structure; there is need for a review and clarification of the roles and responsibilities of authorities and institutions at the central and regional level. The need to establishing a regulatory agency for tariff setting and strengthening already existing institutions should be taken into consideration.

—      Construction of appropriate disposal facilities; construction of new urban waste landfills in Tirana, Durres, Shkoder, etc., and sanitary landfills, will allow better management of solid waste and is expected to have a great positive effect on the environment and public health.

—      The role and resource of the Environmental Inspectorate, needs to be reviewed and strengthened.

—      Guidelines and training.

—      Development of databases etc.