EU-Funded Composting Center in Cërrik, Albania Transforms Green Materials into Fertilizer

In Cërrik, a central Albanian city, 300 tons of green waste annually are no longer incinerated but instead converted into fertilizer through a composting center funded by the EU.

This eco-friendly initiative is contributing to reduced carbon dioxide emissions, decreased costs, and enhanced support for local farmers. It improves the cleanliness of the environment, mitigates ecological impacts, and opens up revenue opportunities while aiding farmers in crop production by converting waste into fertilizer.

The Composting and Recycling Center in Cërrik is situated among lush fields on the city’s outskirts, where waste was previously collected. Constructed under the EU’s Circular Economy and Livable Cities project, it also curtails the decay of organic materials that would otherwise emit methane, a gas significantly more harmful than CO2.

Twice a week, a small truck gathers green waste, including branches, garden clippings, greenhouse refuse, and seasonal pruning from households, as well as low vegetation and grass. During spring and autumn, the volume of collected waste varies due to seasonal activities. As a primarily agricultural region, Cërrik generates most of its waste as organic and green materials. A team of five trained personnel at the center conducts various laboratory tests on the final product, ensuring its safety and quality for use as fertilizer.

The composting process consists of multiple stages, starting with the collection and storage of organic materials up to the final decomposition.

Initially, the waste is shredded into a nearly ground consistency. It is then covered and turned multiple times over 5-7 months, regularly hydrated and monitored for temperature, which must reach 65°C to eliminate seeds and maximize sterility. Finally, the material is screened and the mixture is marketed to farmers as fertilizer, reducing their dependence on synthetic alternatives.

“We handle only a fraction of Cërrik’s waste, but we initially underestimated the volume of green waste available. Citizens are now more conscious – they no longer burn or dispose of green waste in trash bins but leave it near garbage bins for us to collect. This approach provides multiple benefits: by preventing burning, we reduce pollution; by avoiding incineration costs, we save money; and by composting, we generate revenue. When we evaluate both direct and indirect income, we find that we cover the operational expenses of the center, including staff salaries and maintenance, while fostering a cleaner city,” states Enea Tacja, Director of the Public Services Agency in Cërrik, highlighting the initiative’s financial sustainability.

The composting center plans to acquire a new shredding machine capable of processing 30-50 tons per hour, alongside a larger, self-loading and self-unloading truck equipped with a crane to extend its reach across Cërrik. The facility can also process food waste, although its collection has been challenging due to insufficient source separation.

From ancient Mesopotamian gardening documented on clay tablets to Japan’s Bokashi method, and from composting practices in Greek, Roman, and Egyptian cultures using pits to Germany’s Hügelkultur system, humanity has continuously sought effective ways to manage waste responsibly and enhance urban livability.

Composting diminishes reliance on chemical fertilizers, boosts soil moisture retention, curbs soil erosion, promotes plant growth, reduces plant mortality, saves money, prevents greenhouse gas emissions, mitigates climate change, enhances water quality, and overall offers economic, environmental, and social advantages that improve life quality.

The EU’s Circular Economy and Livable Cities project is co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and is executed by GIZ Albania in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MTM). This initiative aids Albania in transitioning towards a circular economy and empowers municipalities to establish sustainable cities for the future, contributing to enhanced public health, green job creation, and improved energy efficiency. (June 6)