In the framework of the German-Albanian Financial Cooperation, the Governments of Albania and Germany agreed to jointly develop a project to establish a modern environmentally sound and sustainable waste management system in the Region of Korca.

During a first project phase between January 2008 and June 2009 (bridging phase), 5 municipalities and 23 communes established a regional waste management association (KRWM) that is now in charge of all future waste management activities in the region. Additional consulting services during the first project phase focused on the institutional strengthening of the new waste company and the development of an initial company strategy (business planning).

In the second phase between April 2010 and October 2011, all remaining pre-conditions for the successful implementation of an investment into waste infrastructure (landfill, healthcare waste treatment, transfer stations, collection vehicles) were addressed, e.g.:

• Final review of the feasibility study’s framework conditions and calculations parameters;
• Final preparation and adoption of the regional waste plan;
• Finalisation and adoption of KRWM’s business plan and strategic financial planning;
• Field investigations and design works for the construction of a new sanitary landfill, a healthcare waste facility and 4 transfer stations;
• Application for the required environmental and construction permits for all planned new facilities;
• Execution of the land expropriation process for the landfill and the transfer stations;
• Preparation of tender documents for the construction works;
• Improvement of landfill operations at selected existing local dumps;
• Development of a rehabilitation concept for selected existing local dumps;
• Improvement of waste collection services in selected municipalities and communes;
• Awareness raising campaigns focusing on the new waste management infrastructure; and
• Capacity building for the regional waste company KRWM.