Waste management performance in the Western Balkans: A multi-criteria assessment using the PROMETHEE method

Abstract

Solid waste management in the Western Balkans remains critically underdeveloped relative to European Union (EU) standards, with recycling infrastructure gaps, widespread reliance on landfilling, and incomplete harmonisation with the EU Waste Framework Directive posing persistent challenges. This study applies the PROMETHEE II multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) method to assess and rank the solid waste management performance of five Western Balkan countries, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, using four Eurostat indicators for 2022: waste generation per capita, waste generation excluding major mineral wastes per GDP unit, recycling rate of municipal waste, and generation of municipal waste per capita. Equal weights were assigned across criteria, and a sensitivity analysis was conducted to test ranking robustness. Albania ranked first, driven by comparatively lower resource intensity and higher municipal waste recycling rates, whilst Montenegro ranked last. The PROMETHEE II composite scores reveal systemic disparities across the region, with all five countries falling substantially below the EU benchmark recycling rate of 49.1%. The proposed MCDA framework offers a replicable, data-driven tool for waste management authorities, international organisations, and policymakers to benchmark national performance and prioritise infrastructure investment. Findings point to an urgent need for expanded separate collection systems, modernised sorting and treatment facilities, and stronger policy alignment with EU circular economy targets as preconditions for sustainable solid waste management in the region.