The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) BiH, through its initiative to strengthen local governance and environmental management, supports a project aimed at enhancing waste management systems across ten municipalities in the Upper Drina Region: Foča, Čajniče, Novo Goražde, Rudo, Višegrad, Pale, Trnovo, Goražde, Foča-Ustikolina, and Pale FBiH (Prača). The primary goal of the project is to improve waste management practices by conducting a thorough assessment of existing systems, infrastructure, legal frameworks, and resources, and by developing actionable recommendations for both individual municipalities and the region as a whole.
The project engages local institutions, municipal utility companies, and relevant stakeholders in a comprehensive research and consultation process. Key activities include gaining an in-depth understanding of local institutional and legal frameworks, organizing consultation meetings to facilitate dialogue and build trust, and forming dedicated working groups for each municipality to ensure coordinated implementation of project activities. A standardized questionnaire is developed to collect qualitative and quantitative data on current waste management practices, followed by interviews, collective and individual meetings, and detailed data analysis.
Based on the collected information, comprehensive assessments of municipal and regional waste management policies and practices are prepared, taking into account local capacities, resources, and legal frameworks. The project emphasizes practical and context-specific recommendations, guided by the principles of the 5Rs—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, and Refuse — to support sustainable and integrated waste management solutions. Through these efforts, the project strengthens regional cooperation, builds local capacities, and provides actionable guidance for municipalities to enhance efficiency, environmental protection, and public service delivery in waste management.