Wastes, Albanians are producing more and recycling less

More wastes are being produced and less and less is being recycled in Albania. According to official data issued by the country’s office of statistics (INSTAT), last year, the amount of wastes that was recycled was less than the previous year. “In 2017, the amount of recycled waste was 1.2 million as opposed to 1,3 million in 2016, registering a fall of 3,6%”, experts of INSTAT say, adding that the amount of wastes produced in the country measured per each resident, has increased.

“The annual amount of wastes generated per resident on a national level in 2017 was 386 kg per resident, while in 2016 it was 373 kg”, they explain. This is another element which reflects the serious situation that citizens face on a daily basis with wastes. This is the reason why recycling of wastes has taken center stage in the recent public debates on the environment. However, data shows that the situation has not improved. “In 2017, the amount of non urban wastes which was recycled along with urban wastes accounted for 11% of the total, as opposed to 17% in 2016 with a fall of 6%”, experts of INSTAT argue. Meanwhile, they also say that “the level of coverage of the population with community services for the management of urban wastes in 2017 was 68,9%, 0,2% more than 2016”.