Albania opens first glass recycling line to boost national circularity

ALBANIA – In a significant step toward strengthening its circular economy, Albania has inaugurated its first-ever glass recycling line, a facility capable of processing up to 36,000 tonnes of glass per year.

Located in Krujë and operated by Albania Glass Recycling, the plant aims to collaborate with manufacturers, distributors, and municipalities to divert large volumes of glass from landfill and reintroduce it into productive use.

Supported by the EU for Circular Economy and Livable Cities program, the new recycling line is positioned as a milestone in Albania’s broader efforts to modernize its waste management infrastructure.

At the opening ceremony, Minister of Environment Sofjan Jaupaj emphasized the importance of cross-sector cooperation in delivering environmental progress.

“This project will bring concrete results for a greener economy by reducing waste,” Jaupaj said.

“Over the past month, we have inaugurated several new waste collection and recycling stations across different cities, reducing the volume of waste ending up in landfills.”

The Krujë facility will focus on producing two types of recycled materials: Vetropool, a sand-like medium used for water filtration in swimming pools, and Terrazo glass, a durable decorative material used in tiles, interior design and urban furniture.

Both products support the country’s goals of expanding domestic recycling capacity while supplying locally processed, value-added materials to industry.

The initiative is backed by several partners, including Germany’s development agency GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and RecyAI, Circular Economy Park, an Albanian platform dedicated to transforming national waste processing systems.

The launch comes as Albania pushes forward with a draft waste management law aimed at strengthening recycling systems and aligning national regulations with EU standards.

According to Jaupaj, the proposed legislation introduces a new approach centred on structured waste collection and higher recycling performance, both crucial for meeting EU integration requirements.

Europe’s focus on glass recycling is also accelerating. Data from Close the Glass Loop shows that EU collection rates rose from 80.2% in 2022 to 80.8% in 2023, driven in part by improvements in previously underperforming markets.

At the consumer level, recyclability continues to shape packaging choices. A recent McKinsey survey found that recyclability is considered the “most critical” sustainability feature of packaging globally, with glass and paper ranking as the most preferred materials for environmentally conscious consumers.

With Albania’s new glass recycling line now operational, the country is expected to make significant strides toward boosting recycling rates, reducing landfill pressure and advancing its national circularity goals.

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