Law on Waste Management

Serbia’s Law on Waste Management regulates handling waste from generation through collection, transport, treatment and disposal. It links prevention, reuse and recovery with permits, records and responsibility. Municipal waste, special waste streams and hazardous waste require different treatment: delivery arrangements, documentation and competent authorities are not identical for every category. Whether material is waste and how it is classified should be checked before selecting an operator.

Waste producers and holders should establish how their waste must be separated and to whom it may be transferred. An operator’s permit must cover the specific activity, site and waste type; a company name or collection advertisement does not establish authorisation. Local authorities organise services and planning within their competence. National, provincial and local authorities issue administrative acts and carry out supervision according to the statutory division of responsibilities.

For an illegal dump, record the location, date, apparent waste type and possible risks without handling unknown substances. Contact the relevant local service or inspectorate, keeping your report and the response. For a treatment facility, request permit, management plan and inspection information. A pollution report, information request and challenge to an administrative decision serve different purposes and have different conditions. Reporting a problem does not automatically make the reporter a party to a permit procedure.

The new law appears in Official Gazette 109/2025 and replaces the legislation published in 36/2009, 88/2010, 14/2016, 95/2018 through another law, and 35/2023. It takes effect on the eighth day after publication. Article 58 paragraphs 4–6 apply from 1 January 2027, so that part is not yet applicable at the review date. Article 111 provides business alignment, generally within one year with specific exceptions; Article 113 retains earlier implementing rules until replacements. Check transitional provisions for an individual permit.

This is Avangarda’s informative editorial overview and translation, not an official translation. For a particular case, check the current law through the official source, relevant implementing rules and individual decisions, and seek qualified legal help where needed. This overview does not replace the legislation or a competent authority’s decision.

Helps distinguish responsibility for waste, municipal services and an operator’s permit, and identify the competent authority.

Residents, households, communities, associations, waste producers and authorised operators; obligations depend on waste type and activity.

When reporting an illegal dump, checking collection or treatment, or requesting permit information and local management plans.