In the Republic of North Macedonia the waste is the second abysm and emitter of greenhouse gases and it is right behind the energy sector. From 2004 until today, the amounts of greenhouse gases from waste are constantly increasing. On average, in Europe waste contributes with a total of 3% of total greenhouse gas emissions, while in the Republic of North Macedonia this percentage ranges between 5.5 and 7. Most of the waste in the Republic of North Macedonia is accumulated at the legal and illegal landfills, which due to being overloaded with any type of waste they often burn / self-ignite, thus meaning risk to biodiversity, agricultural land and human health.
When it comes to plastics, a year ago, only those types of plastics that can be sold on the market were selected, i.e. PET plastic waste and in a very small percentage certain types of HDPE and PVC. But lately, there is a very low demand on the market or the price is so low that it is unprofitable for both collectors and processors to work with them. On the contrary, legal and illegal landfills are full of different types of plastic, including the above mentioned.
The percentage of plastic recycling is very low.
The problem with the market creates difficulties for the companies with Licenses for Management, Transport and Treatment, where often significant quantities of such waste is accumulated in the waste treatment warehouses, or they are forced not to buy it. Thus the percentage of plastic recycling is very small.


WHY do you want to implement this project; and what do you want to achieve? What is the project imact (consisted of several immediate project results)
Recognizing such problems, the need to reduce waste has been identified, especially PET plastic waste as one of the most difficult decomposable waste materials. Reducing this type of waste will contribute to reduce emissions, and it will also create a cleaner and healthier environment.
The idea of this project is to be implemented including the two parallel projects of the citizens' associations (EKO LIFE - Gevgelija and Eko Tim Istok - Kochani) and two companies with License for collection, storage, transport and treatment of municipal and other types of non-hazardous waste from Gevgelija (Bliznak-Kom ) and Kochani (Ekoproekt-Ko) that comprise two regions (Southeast and East region).The idea is to establish a system for processing PET plastic waste and opening of new markets for reused and recycled materials, i.e. the production of eco outdoor tiles by using 30 % PET waste and 70% sand, which will be marketed as a certified product.
Due to the high prices of the line (machines) for production of eco tiles that are not available on Macedonian market, in parallel throughout the two projects a set of line for eco tiles will be procured and it will be installed in the premises of Bliznak-Kom Gevgelija, thus including the collected PET waste from Kochani within the production process. The project, i.e. the project idea is an example of a project successfully implemented and still functional in Armenia, which was initiated by GEF SGP.
At the same time, the associations can improve their capacities through exchange of knowledge and information, by sharing knowledge from previously implemented projects and activities. Eko Tim Istok, an association with experience in implementing projects in the field of environment shall be mentoring the newly created association (EKO LIFE) that has not implemented any projects independently.
During the implementation of this project, the equipment procured from a previous project financed by GEF shall be used. Namely a special freight motor vehicle for waste collection and transport, which was given by Eko Tim Istok to the use of Ekoproekt-Ko DOO, will be used to take over and transport the collected packaging PET waste on the territory of the municipality of Kochani to Gevgelija.