Agricultural waste, untapped potential for the circular economy in Albania

Albania still has great scope to turn agricultural waste into an economic resource, through bioenergy, recyclable materials, and new products for industry.

The Regional Cooperation Council report "On the potential of advanced and green technologies in the Western Balkans" assesses that the circular economy could be one of the areas where Albania has the opportunity to have an advantage, especially by utilizing waste from agriculture and agro-industry.

The report cites olive pits and fruit waste as examples, which can be used for bioenergy or materials production. Some small businesses in the country have already started producing biomass briquettes from agricultural waste, showing that the circular economy model is not only an environmental concept, but can also be turned into an economic activity.

This potential is significant for Albania, where agriculture and agro-processing remain important sectors of the economy. Instead of organic waste being dumped, burned or left unused, it can be turned into raw materials for energy, packaging, secondary materials or value-added products.

According to the report, Albania has had serious problems with waste management, including open landfills, but in recent years initiatives for recycling centers and separation of industrial waste have been emerging. In Tirana, there are already companies that recycle used paper, plastic and tires, turning them into secondary materials. Some of these initiatives have also been developed in partnership with Italian companies.

In this context, the circular economy can help Albania reduce its dependence on imported raw materials and create more sustainable production chains. For sectors that export to the European Union, such as textiles, footwear, agro-processing and construction materials, the use of recycled materials and environmental standards can become a competitive factor.

The report highlights that Albania is striving to incorporate circular economy principles into environmental policies. The country has updated its environmental protection law to integrate these principles and is developing a circular economy strategy. Albania is also part of the EU4Green regional initiatives, which support reforestation, sustainable agriculture and the use of solar pumps for farms.

Another important development is the piloting of the concept of eco-industrial parks with UNDP support. The idea is for companies within an industrial zone to share common resources, such as wastewater treatment plants or solar installations for businesses operating in the park. Such a model can lower costs, reduce pollution and promote more efficient use of resources.

In the regional map of green technologies, TechSpace Tirana is mentioned as one of the centers that supports circular product design and prototyping of environmentally friendly products. Meanwhile, Oficina Accelerator is mentioned as an actor that supports eco-businesses. These centers can help the circular economy not remain only in traditional recycling, but be connected to product design, sustainable packaging and new technologies.

Sustainable packaging initiatives are mentioned in this area, including BioPack Balkans in Albania, which is introducing packaging solutions based on bioplastics and plant fibers. This innovation is important for a country with an agricultural and agro-processing sector, where sustainable packaging can increase the value of products and help exports to markets that require higher environmental standards.

However, the challenge remains great. The circular economy in Albania is still in its early stages and relies mainly on stand-alone initiatives, donor projects and small businesses. To turn this potential into industry, the country needs more investment, waste processing technology, clear standards for source separation and stronger links between farmers, processors, recyclers and industry.

The report highlights that agricultural waste could be one of Albania's most undervalued assets in the green transition. If olive pits, fruit waste, plastic, paper or used tires are turned into energy, materials and new products, the circular economy could create additional value for businesses, reduce pollution and help Albania more quickly align with European Union environmental standards./ekofin.al