Plastic pollution in Vjosa and Ishëm - Mazreku: Concrete measures, law enforcement problem. Gangloff: Integrated approach needed
Plastic pollution in the Vjosa and Ishëm rivers remains one of the main environmental challenges in the country, so it is necessary to move from data analysis to concrete actions on the ground. Everything was emphasized at the National Conference organized by Milieukontakt, which brought together representatives of public institutions, local government, civil society organizations and the private sector, especially HoReCa.
“The situation in Albania in the field of waste management remains challenging. Although important steps have been taken towards improving the legal framework and policies, in practice the infrastructure for source separation, collection and recycling still remains limited. Plastic, due to its widespread use and very slow degradation, is among the most problematic pollutants. Albania is also one of the economies where a significant portion of waste remains poorly managed. This contributes to a high passage of plastic waste, often untreated, into the Adriatic-Ionian basin, with around 20 kg per person per year (2020). This figure clearly shows that our impact is not limited only within national borders, but extends to wider regional ecosystems”, - said Valbona Mazreku, executive director of Milieukontakt.
The representative of the European Union Delegation to Albania emphasized that the protection of rivers and the marine environment requires an integrated approach, from source to sea.
“Most of the pollution affecting the sea and coastline originates far from the coast. This is why an integrated “source to sea” approach is necessary. So this approach reflects the way EU environmental policy works and is also the model that Albania is adopting as part of its European journey”, said Mr. Jean-Noel Gangloff, from the Delegation of the European Union to Albania.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Environment, Genti Gazheli, emphasized the importance of data in designing effective policies, but also the costs associated with their implementation.
"At the same time, we need to be realistic about the cost associated with implementing EU environmental laws. This effort requires significant investments in infrastructure, institutional capacity, monitoring systems and other areas. However, these costs should be seen as a long-term investment in public health, economic and environmental sustainability," Gazheli said.
One of the focal points of the conference was the discussion on the draft policy documents for the two basins, which highlight that the main challenge is no longer related to the lack of legislation, but to its implementation in practice.
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