The funding is intended to help Serbia address the country’s long-standing landfill problem, including the remediation and closure of sites that no longer meet modern environmental standards.
The project comes as Serbia continues to face challenges in developing a more efficient waste management system. A significant share of municipal waste is still disposed of in landfills, while illegal and poorly managed dumpsites remain an environmental concern in parts of the country.
Closing and rehabilitating existing landfills can help reduce soil and groundwater pollution, unpleasant odours and methane emissions, while also limiting risks to nearby communities. Properly managing former landfill sites is particularly important because waste can continue to affect the surrounding environment long after a site stops receiving new material.
The EBRD has been involved in supporting environmental and infrastructure projects across Serbia, including investments aimed at improving municipal services and bringing the country’s environmental standards closer to those of the European Union.
Better waste management is also an important part of Serbia’s broader EU integration process, as the country is expected to make significant progress in areas such as waste separation, recycling, landfill management and the development of a circular economy.
The latest funding could therefore contribute not only to the rehabilitation of existing sites, but also to a broader shift towards more sustainable waste management practices in Serbia, reducing the environmental burden of landfills and encouraging investment in modern waste infrastructure.
