In the industrial city of Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, a pressing environmental challenge is being transformed into an opportunity for sustainable development. The project From Landfill to Power: Zenica’s Waste to Energy Pathway, implemented by Damaris Solutions, in partnership with Privredno društvo „Regionalna deponija Mošćanica“ d.o.o. Zenica, is introducing innovative waste-to-energy (WtE) solutions that lay the foundation for modern, circular waste management. The initiative is supported by the Czech-UNDP Partnership for Sustainable Development Goals via the Challenge Fund, and funded by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Waste Management Context in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to rely heavily on landfilling, with limited waste sorting and underdeveloped energy recovery systems. While national legislation is gradually aligning with EU waste management directives emphasizing reuse, recycling, and energy recovery, municipalities such as Zenica face challenges in translating policy into practice. Zenica’s Mošćanica landfill processes approximately 76,000 tons of waste annually and already captures landfill gas, yet this biogas has so far been flared without energy recovery. The project seeks to unlock this untapped potential by identifying WtE technologies suited to local conditions, reducing environmental impacts while generating renewable energy.
A Milestone for Sustainable Waste Management in Zenica
A major highlight of the project was the public handover and installation of a modern solar-powered waste container station with an integrated compactor. Installed in Zenica’s business zone, the unit represents an important first step and demonstration of how innovative, low-carbon technologies can be integrated into everyday waste management practices. It serves as a practical example of modern, energy-efficient solutions and highlights the potential for gradual transition toward more sustainable waste systems. The official handover ceremony, held on 10 December 2025, marked a key milestone in the project’s implementation. The event brought together representatives of the project partners, UNDP, local authorities, and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Sarajevo, including Her Excellency Madam Ambassador Lolić Šindelková. The Ambassador’s participation underscored the strong support of the Czech Republic for environmentally responsible solutions and international cooperation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The ceremony began with discussions at Zenica City Hall, where stakeholders reviewed preliminary findings from the ongoing feasibility study and explored Zenica’s longer-term waste-to-energy opportunities. The programme continued with the ceremonial presentation of the solar-powered container station at ZEDA and concluded with a field visit to the Mošćanica landfill, directly linking strategic planning with operational realities.
Demonstrating Technology, Building Awareness
The solar-powered container station represents a tangible step toward low-carbon waste management. By compacting waste on-site using renewable energy, the unit reduces waste volume, lowers the frequency of collection and transport, and decreases associated greenhouse gas emissions. Its installation provides the city with a functional example of how modern technology can improve efficiency while aligning with EU waste management and decarbonisation standards.
Complementing the technical intervention, a public awareness campaign was launched to encourage responsible waste behavior. Educational leaflets introducing the 6R principles: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle, and Rot, were distributed during the handover event, throughout the business zone, and to households across Zenica. An information banner installed at the container site further promotes correct waste separation and highlights the benefits of solar-powered compaction technology.
By combining feasibility planning, visible demonstration projects, and public participation, Zenica is emerging as a replicable model for sustainable, circular waste management in Bosnia and Herzegovinas, howing how waste can be transformed from an environmental burden into a resource for a greener future.
