Project: “Environmental Protection and Waste Management”

Albania – Kosovo* 2007 – 2013

The action, focused on environmental protection and waste management in the cross-border region between the municipalities of Kukës, Albania and Suharek, Kosovo, aims to increase awareness and capacity of students, public institutions and enterprises to sustainably manage and recycling waste for economic development. Collaboration between URI, ATRC, schools, students, teachers, municipalities and enterprises will clean the cities and environment and take the necessary steps to establish waste management systems that support recycling and encourage behavioural change. This cross-border collaboration on joint initiatives will strengthen environmental protection and stimulate sustainable economic development in the region.

The participating municipalities of the cross-border region of Kosovo and Albania lay in the Drin watershed, including the largest rivers in both Albania (Black Drin) and Kosovo (White Drin). The Drin river is an important natural resource both for its ecological diversity and for its economic benefits, as it has Albania’s three largest hydroelectric dams; Fierza, Koman and Vau i Dejes. The eco-tourism potentials of the Drin river valley are also hampered by the pollution from recyclable waste, causing damage to the ecology and to the efficient functioning of the hydroelectric downstream. Therefore focus is placed on integrated waste management to both protect the Drin ecosystem and stimulate economic development through waste collection and recycling.

The overall objective of the project is to stimulate sustainable economic development and environmental protection through promotion of recycling and integrated waste management in the cross border region, by raising awareness and collaborative capacities amongst citizens, public institutions and enterprises.

The main focus of the project will be environmental protection and economic development through promotion of integrated waste management with education, training and actions on the benefits of recycling.