This post is part of my ongoing series documenting CETAP’s journey to help Bosnia and Herzegovina transition toward a circular economy.
Looking back at CETAP’s first quarter, I’m proud of how far we’ve come since the project’s inception. Between November 2024 and February 2025, our team — working under the guidance of COWI A/S in partnership with SEI and UBA — focused on laying the analytical and institutional groundwork for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s transition to a circular economy.
Our core task during this phase was to assess the market potential for applying circular-economy principles to special waste categories — from WEEE and tyres to construction waste and used oils. We began by mapping stakeholders, engaging with municipal utilities, recycling operators, environmental funds, and EPR schemes across both entities and Brčko District. Those meetings provided us with a clearer understanding of existing capacities and gaps.
In parallel, our policy experts undertook a full legislative review across the Federation of BiH, Republika Srpska, and Brčko District — work that will inform alignment with the EU Waste Package and the ongoing country commitment to the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.
Next, we’ll finalise the market-potential study, launch capacity-building programmes, and start shaping legal and municipal frameworks to embed circularity at every level.
What excites me most is seeing this project evolve from paper to practice. CETAP is proving that careful preparation and inclusive consultation are the real engines of sustainable change.
