Regional E-Waste Monitor for the Western Balkans

This report presents a comprehensive assessment of electronic waste generation, management, and governance in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. It was implemented through a joint partnership between the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Sustainable Cycles Programme under the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. Using a mass balance methodology based on equipment placed on the market and product lifespans, aligned with internationally harmonised statistical guidelines, it quantifies trends in electrical and electronic equipment and resulting waste. Between 2010 and 2021, equipment placed on the market and electronic waste generation increased markedly, while only 27 per cent was formally collected in 2021. The report analyses statistics, key stakeholders, legislation, technological practices, transboundary movement, informal sector dynamics, and material recovery potential, and sets out recommendations to strengthen environmentally sound management systems in the region.