Republic of Srpska waiting for waste management strategy

The draft Strategy on waste management has been submitted to the Republika of Srpska Parliament for adoption and has won unanimous support among MPs, RS Spatial Planning, Civil Engineering and Ecology Srebrenka Golić said in a meeting with Swedish Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina Anders Hagelberg. The ambassador said the Republic of Srpska has taken positive steps forward in protecting the environment, especially in drafting the documents needed to implement the waste management strategy.

Ambassador Hagelberg added that the Republika of Srpska has also made positive steps in the treating of waste waters, management of solid waste and in improving energy efficiency.

The draft Strategy on waste management from the year 2017 to 2026 has been on public debate since mid-February 2017 and was submitted to Parliament for adoption on July 4 this year.

Minister Golić said the drafting of a waste management plan for the Republic of Srpska is also needed and should be financed as part of the technical aid project to build long-term sustainability for the integrated management of solid waste, a ministry statement said. That project is being implemented by the World Bank with funds provided by the Swedish development agency SIDA.

The plan would define in detail the guidelines set out in the waste management strategy as well guidelines for building infrastructure, procuring the necessary equipment, capacity building, raising awareness and drafting and harmonizing regulations, the ministry statement said.

Minister Golić said a feasibility study is needed for landfill sites and transfer stations, as well as for new investments and the maintaining of current sites in order to find the best possible solutions.

All the documentation for the project needs to be drawn up so that work can start right away, the ministry statement said.