The main objective is the development of a solid waste reuse ecosystem, in order to: a) map solid waste sources and potential receivers of waste streams; b) propose national and transnational viable waste reuse pathways, through matching supply and demand; c) establish a collaborative network of relevant stakeholders in the region, with the high-profile backing of key project partners: two Ministries of Environment (Greece, Albania), a national industry association (Bulgaria), and the largest public agency for waste management in Greece; d) promote relevant policies that are aligned with EU ambitions on waste reuse (e.g. Directive 2008/98/EC).

The goal is a cluster-like integration of territorial development and cooperation activities, for improving the growth potential and sustainable development in the region. Specifically, the proposed waste reuse value chains will aim at a positive impact on the project partners’ regional and national economies by: a) creating new jobs – e.g. new SMEs may enter in the resulting waste management value chains; b) increasing the partners governments’ revenue stream from taxes, that can be redirected to further environment-specific investments. Moreover, they can significantly reduce the environmental polluting load by minimizing the volume of solid industrial waste being disposed in the landfills, the amount of imports of raw materials and the respective national CO2 emissions. The end goal is tangible and pragmatic improvements in social, environmental and financial conditions in the region, thus paving the way towards green growth in the region that is fully aligned with EU aspirations for environment and growth.

Finally, the presence in the consortium of key decision and policy makers further aims at developing pragmatic policy recommendations, to be taken into account in establishing a common and transnational strategy in the region towards resource efficiency and climate change resilience.”