For a long time, recycling in Albania has been treated as a technical obligation: a service to be provided, a cost to be covered. The third episode of the green economy podcast shifts this perspective and raises a fundamental question: what happens when waste is seen as an economic resource?
This episode brings forward concrete arguments, models, and people that support a clear thesis: recycling creates markets, generates income, and creates jobs.
At the center is the model of Berat. The Mayor of Berat, Ervin Ceca, explains how a system works that starts with household waste separation and ends with the sale of recyclable materials through public auctions. From designated neighborhood bins, to collection points near the landfill, to businesses that purchase processed materials—the chain is complete. And most importantly, it works.
This model was developed in collaboration with SIDA, bringing international expertise to the local level. The result? Waste is no longer just an operational cost. It is an asset that generates revenue and employment opportunities. The natural question the episode raises is: can this approach be replicated nationwide?
From the public sector, the discussion moves to private initiatives. Lulzim Baumann presents the vision behind Circular Economy Park Albania, a space near Tirana International Airport designed to demonstrate in practice what circular construction and production mean. Not theory, but implementation: recycled materials, reused wood, and construction techniques based on local resources. A park that doesn’t use circular economy as a label—but as its foundation.
The third dimension of the episode focuses on the labor market. Erka Çaro from Swisscontact, within the Skills4Jobs program, explains why green skills are key to this transformation. Investments in renewable energy, recycling, and sectors linked to the green transition require reskilled professionals and new profiles. The economy is changing—and education and training must evolve with it.
In this episode, you will understand how a local system can turn waste into a marketable product. You will see how an innovative park can serve as a living lab for the circular economy. And you will hear why skills—more than technology—are the decisive factor in making this transformation sustainable.
This episode is for local leaders, entrepreneurs, education and training professionals, but also for every citizen who wants to understand their role in this chain. Because recycling doesn’t start in the landfill. It starts at home—and ends in the economy.
If you want to see how an administrative obligation can become a development strategy, this is the episode to watch. And also how we can adapt to the evolving labor market and build the skills needed for a sustainable and competitive future.
Sunday, April 5, 20:15 on the official BusinessMag YouTube channel.
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