Across the Western Balkans, the transition to a circular economy is slowly taking shape through a diverse range of initiatives—some led by local governments, others by civil society, businesses, or international donors. While challenges like political instability, weak infrastructure, and limited public awareness persist, concrete efforts are emerging to promote sustainable waste management, resource efficiency, and community-based innovation. These short articles highlight examples from each country in the region, showcasing early steps toward circular practices that hold the potential to inspire broader transformation. We also invite our audience to share stories and information about other good examples they know of.
In North Macedonia, several private sector initiatives have emerged as early leaders in applying circular economy principles—particularly in urban recycling systems and sustainable food production.
The Skopje-based company Pakomak has established itself as a national leader in packaging waste management. Operating under a public-private partnership model, Pakomak coordinates collection points across the country and works with municipalities to improve waste separation at the source. According to a 2023 company report, Pakomak recycled over 20,000 tons of packaging waste in 2022, contributing to public awareness campaigns and infrastructure development aligned with EU waste directives.
In the agrifood sector, Vezë Sharri, a poultry company based in Tetovo, has integrated circular practices by using organic waste from egg production for composting and energy generation. Their closed-loop approach reduces environmental impact while improving operational efficiency. This initiative is seen as a model for other agri-businesses in the country.
At the grassroots level, organizations such as CIVIL – Center for Freedom have launched civic monitoring and educational projects to raise awareness of waste management challenges. The organization’s media platform has exposed discrepancies between official green promises and actual waste infrastructure, sparking public discussion and calls for accountability.
Despite these promising steps, North Macedonia continues to face major obstacles. Municipal waste separation remains underdeveloped in most regions, landfill dependency is high, and public data on environmental spending is often inaccessible or unclear. Still, civil society and business actors are demonstrating that local innovation—backed by pressure for transparency—can drive meaningful shifts toward a more circular economy.
Prepared by the GreenCIVIL team, with AI-supported research and editing (ChatGPT/OpenAI), under the LogEx network initiative
This content is part of the GREEN Civil project “Give Me Five!”, within the framework of the Western Balkans Circular Economy Week (May 26- June 1, 2025) under the motto “From Local Fixes to Regional Impact”.
The initiative is implemented by the LogEx regional network, of which CIVIL is a member. The network was launched by the reputable think tank organization Balkan Forum from Kosovo, and with the support of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund from the United States.
