Circular material use rate

North Macedonia has been gradually aligning its environmental policies with EU standards, including efforts to improve its circular material use rate (CMUR). The country’s circular economy policies are in early stages of development, primarily guided by the national waste management strategy and Law on Waste Management. These frameworks promote recycling, waste reduction and resource efficiency. North Macedonia’s CMUR remains low, reflecting a linear economic model with limited reuse and recycling practices. To address this, the government is working on enhancing waste separation at the source, developing recycling infrastructure and increasing public awareness. EU support, particularly through Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance funds, has been instrumental in drafting legislation and building institutional capacity. However, challenges such as inadequate data collection, limited investments and low business engagement hinder progress. Future priorities include adopting a national circular economy roadmap, integrating circular principles into production and consumption and aligning statistical indicators with Eurostat methodologies to better monitor CMUR improvements.