ECONOMIC ASPECTS AND LEGAL REGULATIONS OF RECYCLING IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

The topic of waste management and recycling is becoming very important both in our country andthroughout the world. The goal is to emphasize the importance of the environment, its protection and thepreservation of the world around us. Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction. It promotesenvironmental sustainability by removing input raw materials and redirecting waste production into the economicsystem. The question of environmental protection is a question of the future. It is not possible to protect theenvironment if we do not prevent the accumulation of various wastes, the sanctioning of which is constantlypostponed. Urbanization and globalization bring increasing needs of each individual for packaged goods, whichleads to a huge increase in packaging worldwide. The development of industry leads to increased industrial waste.The only way to control waste is recycling treatment. By recycling, in addition to the reduction of waste disposed ofin landfills, we enable re-production, i.e. the use of waste for the re-production of a product. The recycling processhas a huge ecological and economic importance in the system of a country. For a recycling program to work, a large,stable supply of recyclable materials is essential. High-quality recycling can support economic growth bymaximizing the value of waste materials. Three legal options have been used to create such stockpiles: compulsorycollection of recycling, a law on depositing containers and a ban on waste. Compulsory collection laws set recyclingtargets for cities, so a percentage of the material must be diverted from the city's waste stream by a target date. Thecity is responsible for working towards this goal. Recyclable quality not only supports high-quality recycling but canalso bring significant environmental benefits by reducing, reusing and keeping products out of landfills. Anytreatment that is planned to be used in the recycling process must be justified by legal regulations. The keyinstitutional responsibility in the field of waste management lies with the Ministry of Environmental Protection ofthe Republic of Serbia, which, in accordance with the Law on Ministries, performs state administration tasks relatedto: waste management, including hazardous waste, except for radioactive waste; approval of cross-border transportof waste, as well as other tasks specified by law. The paper presents the principle of municipal waste management inthe Republic of Serbia. By reviewing data from abroad, the goals that the Republic of Serbia strives to achieve inthis matter are analyzed, as well as the legal frameworks that regulate the achievement of those goals. The analysisincludes the recycling process itself, its flows, as well as waste management treatments. Concrete ecological andeconomic aspects of recycling that affect life and work in the Republic of Serbia are presented.