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Environmental information systems
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The indicator shows the total generated amount of all types of waste from all economic sectors and households, and compares it with economic development measured as gross domestic product (GDP).
In 2022, Montenegro’s total waste generation was 1 265 356 t, which represents . Regarding waste generation per capita, the trend can be considered stable, with , but it is headed in the wrong direction.
The legal framework in Montenegro is guided by the new Law on Waste Management, which is aligned with EU legislation. The new law previses an extended producer responsibility scheme, which will be implemented from 2026 and relies on best practices in the EU. There is also a ban on the use of lightweight plastic bags (15–50 µm thick) and extended producer responsibility in , representing improvements in the country's situation.
A draft of the has been adopted and is currently up for public debate. This document, along with the new law and, is focused on better waste management, more efficient collection and processing of waste and the implementation of planned activities. Although there are certain official landfills for waste disposal, Montenegro has issues with illegal landfills . The national waste information register (3R) has also been .
References and footnotes
- ↵Eurostat, ‘Generation of waste by category’, ten00108, 30 September 2024, accessed 23 June 2025, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ten00108/default/table?lang=en.
- ↵Eurostat, ‘Generation of waste by waste category, hazardousness and NACE Rev. 2 activity’, env_wasgen, 30 September 2024, accessed 23 June 2025, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/env_wasgen__custom_16089465/default/table?lang=en.
- ↵Government of Montenegro, Law on Waste Management, Podgorica, 2024, accessed 27 June 2025, https://www.sluzbenilist.me/propisi/E6918F47-DE27-486B-A024-AF970DCEED67.
- ↵Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development, Draft National Waste Management Plan 2025–2029, Podgorica, 2025, accessed 23 June 2025, https://www.gov.me/dokumenta/ae947dc9-b8df-4cbc-8e01-db46f7ce2322.
- ↵Government of Montenegro, National Waste Management Strategy 2030, Podgorica, 2015, accessed 23 June 2025, https://www.gov.me/dokumenta/d8073954-d74f-4398-ba8c-2e6747c153f2.
- ↵Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development, Report on implementation of the national waste management plan for 2022, Podgorica, 2023, accessed 23 June 2025, https://www.gov.me/clanak/izvjestaj-o-sprovodenju-drzavnog-plana-upravljanja-otpadom-u-crnoj-gori-za-2022-godinu.
- ↵See the 3R website, accessed 23 June 2025, https://public-3r-epa.gov.me/.