The World Bank has approved a 40 million euro loan to help Montenegro overhaul its waste management system and improve living conditions for communities across the country. The Montenegro Waste Management Reform Project will support the government’s plans to modernize waste services, strengthen institutions, and bring the sector in line with European Union standards.
The project will focus on upgrading solid waste services in selected municipalities and building capacity at both national and local levels. A key element is the construction of a Regional Waste Management Center in Nikšić, which will serve more than 75,000 people with modern recycling, composting, and treatment facilities aimed at cutting reliance on landfills and boosting recycling rates. The project will also finance the cleanup of about 11 hectares of contaminated land at the former KAP industrial site in the Zeta Valley, reducing health risks and protecting groundwater and the Skadar Lake basin.
World Bank Country Manager for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro Christopher Sheldon said the project supports Montenegro’s efforts to deliver cleaner, more reliable waste services while addressing long‑standing environmental problems. The initiative is expected to support sustainable growth and help the country move closer to EU standards. Project preparation benefited from a grant by the Grant Facility for Preparing Projects Trust Fund.