At the proposal of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Government of the Republic of Serbia has adopted the Waste Prevention Plan, a key national strategy aimed at reducing waste generation and fostering the development of a circular economy. The Plan also promotes green technologies, sustainable public procurement, the growth of new industries and jobs in the recycling sector, as well as innovation in sustainable product design. It introduces concrete measures for waste prevention at the national, regional, and local levels.

During the development of the Plan, the EU4Green project supported the Ministry by updating relevant data, defining measures and indicators for effective waste prevention, and preparing the implementation timeline.

1. Why is waste prevention crucial?

The next step is the implementation of the Plan’s defined goals, measures, and activities for the period 2025–2030, in alignment with EU Waste Directives. The Plan also outlines indicators to track the progress of implementation. It is expected to make a significant contribution to resource conservation, reducing environmental pressures, and improving waste prevention practices.

The Minister of Environmental Protection, Irena Vujović, emphasized the importance of this strategic document:

“With this Plan, we are establishing a comprehensive framework to monitor Serbia’s progress in waste prevention and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. By setting clear objectives and measures, we promote the sustainable use of resources, reduce raw material and energy consumption, and enhance environmental protection. By preventing waste generation, we directly reduce pollutant emissions and protect land and water resources.”

Minister Vujović also stressed that effective waste prevention supports the implementation of other strategic waste management and circular economy policies.

2. Key measures outlined in the Plan:

• Support for sustainable production and consumption
• Encouraging the design, production, and use of environmentally friendly (green) products
• Reduction of municipal and packaging waste generation
• Prevention of food waste and support for food donation
• Reducing waste generation in industrial production processes
• Promoting product reuse and introducing systems that support repair and reuse activities
• Encouraging reduction of waste from products containing critical raw materials

The Plan will be implemented in cooperation with local governments, the business sector, and the general public.

The EU4Green regional project supports the Western Balkans in implementing the Green Agenda, which Serbia committed to at the 2021 Sofia Summit by aligning its legislation with EU environmental and climate standards under the European Green Deal. The project is funded by the European Union, co-financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), and implemented by the Environment Agency Austria (EAA). It provides technical support to all economies in the region.