On 14.03.2019, USAID project – Partnership for better business regulation, opened a debate devoted to the waste recycling, with a special emphasis on the textile waste and overcoming the legal and institutional barriers for a more sustainable resource utilization and protection of the environment and people’s health. This info-session was organized in cooperation among the economic chambers and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as some of the key actors in overcoming the barriers connected with waste management in North Macedonia, through creation of solutions and finding an effective and ecological practices for its repeated re-use. “The first event devoted to textile waste management – TeksRek was held in 2017 and I am glad that in the meantime, we reached improvement in the treatment of textile remains as a resource, instead of waste. At the same time, I am happy that the Dutch “polder” model which assumes inclusion of all stakeholders and discussion for certain question until finding the mutually acceptable solution, has proven as successful in this case. There is still a lot of work, and we are ready to have the Dutch experience and knowledge in this area at disposal” said the Dutch Ambassador Wouter Plomp.
One of the biggest challenges of the business sector is actually the waste management, and the initiatives for better practices and changes in the regulation can provide new potentials for development. “The goal is to increase the waste’s recycling share, and by that save consumption of new raw materials, energy, water, decreasing the pressure over the environment, creating more employment and improving the companies’ position and increasing the market competition. Institutional and legal changes, strengthening of the capacities, innovative solutions and cooperation with the science fella are necessary for its realization.” said Slavjanka Pejchinovska – Andonova, environment expert. According to the analyses, the yearly quantity of waste generated by the textile production amounts about 9,000 tons, while the overall yearly costs that companies have to discharge and deposit the waste amounts to 1,5 million euros. Additionally, the extensive customs’ procedures, the time of waiting for waste destruction and the irregular bank guarantees impact the companies’ competitiveness.
So far, two forums for recycling of textile waste were held, while at the same time, a working group for waste was formed, that included experts from the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Dutch Chamber, the Customs Administration, as well as the sectorial partner the Textile Trade Association – Textile Cluster. So far, the project has significantly impacted raising the awareness of the importance of this subject and overcoming the barriers in practice which relate to the write off in the textile LON production. In the upcoming period the business sector will continue to advocate simpler custom procedures in the waste write off, creation of new recycling centers, facilitating the procedure for recycling license and appointing waste collecting companies with a goal to protect the environment and determine better practices of waste management. The final goal is to enable the companies to overcome the legal and institutional barriers and more efficient utilization of the means in direction of development and stability of the business environment.
So far, two forums for recycling of textile waste were held, while at the same time, a working group for waste was formed, that included experts from the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Dutch Chamber, the Customs Administration, as well as the sectorial partner the Textile Trade Association – Textile Cluster. So far, the project has significantly impacted raising the awareness of the importance of this subject and overcoming the barriers in practice which relate to the write off in the textile LON production. In the upcoming period the business sector will continue to advocate simpler custom procedures in the waste write off, creation of new recycling centers, facilitating the procedure for recycling license and appointing waste collecting companies with a goal to protect the environment and determine better practices of waste management. The final goal is to enable the companies to overcome the legal and institutional barriers and more efficient utilization of the means in direction of development and stability of the business environment.