The first BeMed+ workshop was held on November 20th, 2024 in Elbasan, Albania. With nearly 50 participants, the event underscored a strong commitment to tackling plastic pollution in the Shkumbin River basin.
The meeting, organised at the Imperial Hotel in Elbasan, as part of the BeMed+ project, brought together local and national stakeholders to increase knowledge about plastic pollution, the sectors concerned, the drivers and inhibitors of plastic pollution in Albania. The main objective is to launch a 2-year pilot action plan with measures linked to the waste management sector, the HoReCa (Hotel, Restaurant and Café) sector and the sports sector. The proposed measures will be sustainable, tailored to local issues and with long-term objectives. Success stories will be promoted as good practice that can be replicated in other regions.
The workshop program included :
- Discussions on Albania’s circular economy policies and marine litter prevention initiatives.
The high level of engagement and interest from the participants reflects the growing urgency to find actionable, locally adapted solutions for a plastic-free Mediterranean.
BeMed+ aims to activate a network of stakeholders in the field to support and amplify the impact of actions to combat plastic pollution in the Mediterranean. Evaluating effective solutions, providing tools and promoting regional exchanges, and providing financial, scientific and technical support to companies in the plastic products value chain are some of the main activities of the project, which will also support the design and implementation of large-scale private-sector solutions.
