Recycling Matters is a three-year initiative to improve the prosperity and social cohesion of Kosovo Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian informal waste collectors, while fostering sustainable community recycling systems. This locally-led initiative consists of two awards focusing on: 1) Gračanica/Graçanicë and 2) Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje. By facilitating sustainable recycling models, these two awards will increase the amount of recyclable waste that enters the circular economy while increasing the socio-economic cohesion among community members. This initiative contributes to USAID’s overall goal of increasing opportunities for inclusive democratic and economic participation.

Activities  

  • Augment livelihood opportunities among Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian informal waste collectors by increasing the volume of recyclable materials they can access and sell for profit.
  • Vertically integrate the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian informal waste collectors within the public and private sector waste management systems through established cross-sectoral partnerships.
  • Develop sustainable recycling models by encouraging separation-at-source practices across all community levels, increasing awareness of recycling and environmental protection, and establishing a waste separation center.
  • Increase social cohesion among majority and non-majority communities through the collaboration of informal waste collectors, local leadership, and municipal officials.
  • Improve the work conditions and safety of informal waste collectors.

Expected Results  

  • Increased job opportunities and wages for Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian informal waste collectors engaged in the recycling sector.
  • Establishment of a Resource Center to support Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian informal waste collectors. 
  • Establishment of a Waste Separation Center.
  • Enhanced skills of the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian informal waste collectors through training in novel recycling approaches. 
  • Improved work conditions and enhanced safety standards for participating Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian informal waste collectors. 
  • Increased recyclable waste separated at source and processed at the Waste Separation Center.
  • Increased amount of municipal solid waste diverted from landfills. 
  • Sustainable recycling processes established in participating municipalities that can be replicated in other localities.

Additional Information 

PROJECT FUNDING 
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/Kosovo) 

PROJECT DURATION 
August 2022 – August 2025

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS
Democracy Plus (Gracanica)
European Center for Minority Issues (Fushe Kosove)

TOTAL FUNDING 
$4,000,000 ($2,000,000 per award)

KEY COUNTERPARTS
Municipalities of Gračanica/Graçanicë and Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje, Informal Waste Collectors, Communications for Social Development, Roma Versitas Kosovo 

WHERE WE WORK 
Gračanica/Graçanicë
Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje

CONTACTS 
Marina Dimitrijević and Flora Arifi, Project Management Specialists
 

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Recycling Matters
Recycling Matters strives to improve the prosperity and social cohesion of Kosovo Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian informal waste collectors.
Democracy Plus for USAID Kosovo
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Kosovo fact sheet