The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved a €46 million (US$54 million equivalent) loan to Bosnia and Herzegovina to improve solid waste management services, so communities can benefit from cleaner and healthier environment.
The Sustainable Waste Management Project (SWEEP) will focus on the closure and rehabilitation of unsanitary dumpsites, upgrades to regional sanitary landfills, and expanded waste separation, recycling, composting, and recovery. It will enable the safe and sanitary disposal of more than 420,000 metric tons of municipal solid waste annually, increase recycling and recovery rates to 20 percent, and improve service quality for over one million people.
“This project will help municipalities replace unsafe waste disposal practices with modern, sustainable systems,” said Christopher Sheldon, World Bank Country Manager for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. “By strengthening both infrastructure and local capacity, it supports better public health outcomes and advances Bosnia and Herzegovina’s alignment with European Union environmental standards.”
Beyond infrastructure investments, SWEEP will provide institutional support to municipalities, cantonal authorities, and municipally owned public utility companies to strengthen operational performance, financial management, and longterm service sustainability. In total, more than 100 jobs in solid waste management and related services are expected to be created.
Aligned with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Environmental Strategy and Action Plan 2022–2032, national climate commitments, and EU accession requirements under Chapter 27 (Environment and Climate Change), SWEEP also contributes to the Western Balkans Green Agenda by promoting circular economy principles and climate-resilient infrastructure.
The operation is complemented by a US$1.56 million grant from the Global Partnership for ResultsBased Approaches (GPRBA) Trust Fund.
Photo: illustration
