14 partner municipalities in the Pelagonija and Southwest regions have successfully developed and endorsed their Waste Management Local Action Plans (LAPs), a step towards promoting the Integrated Regional Waste Management System in the country. These plans, developed by the municipalities and technically supported through SALAR International with financial support from Sida, signify a collective commitment to improving waste management practices in North Macedonia.
Aligned with the Regional Waste Management Plans (RWMP), the LAPs represent the first step towards an integrated regional waste management system. They prioritize actions such as providing waste services to as many users as possible, introducing a system for waste selection and collection of separate waste streams, as well as reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, hence contributing to achieving the national targets on the reuse, recycling, recovery and preventions. Moreover, they focus on raising awareness in communities about sustainable waste management practices.
The actions outlined in the LAPs are developed with a strong emphasis on promoting a human rights-based approach and gender equality. This means that the actions equally address the needs of marginalized groups while also ensuring that municipal waste services are optimized to better accommodate women’s needs within the community.
Drawing on the lessons learned throughout the LAP development process, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning (MoEPP) is optimistic to having a collaborative and inclusive planning approach with partner municipalities to shape the next RWMP, which is planned for 2026.
The Local Action Plans developed as of yet are available on the following links: