Online session on good local environmental practices: REDI Recycling

On June 29, 2026, the Association LET Station organized an online session dedicated to the REDI Recycling initiative, which was held via the Zoom platform, with a parallel live broadcast on Facebook.

The guest of the event was Lejla Zekirovska, project manager at the Roma Economic Development Initiative – REDI, who presented the REDI Recycling initiative – a Roma social enterprise that works to formalize informal waste collectors and recognize them as “Green Agents”. Through its work, the initiative contributes to the development of the circular economy, improving waste selection, especially plastic and paper, as well as creating dignified employment opportunities and social inclusion of vulnerable categories of citizens.

During the session, the experiences from the establishment and operation of REDI Recycling, the achieved results, as well as the challenges faced by the initiative were presented. The possibilities of replicating this model in other municipalities were also discussed, as well as the importance of cooperation between civil society organizations, local governments, public enterprises and the private sector in creating sustainable waste management systems.

The Facebook live broadcast aroused particular interest, through which followers actively participated in the discussion with questions and comments. Most of the questions related to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the initiative, the possibilities of implementing the model in smaller and rural areas, the necessary human, financial and institutional resources for starting such initiatives, the challenges that may arise during implementation, as well as the prerequisites for the successful formalization of informal waste collectors.

The event represented a significant opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and good practices, encouraging discussion on innovative approaches to environmental protection, the development of the circular economy and the promotion of local activism.

*The activity is within the framework of the project “Eco Initiative: Citizens and Local Government in Action for Environmental Protection!”, implemented by the Association LET Station, within the framework of the sub-granting program of the project “Good Environmental Governance of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans”, implemented by the Center for Legal Research and Analysis, the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association and Front 21/42, and is financially supported by the European Union.