Serbia generated 182.3 million tonnes of waste in 2025, according to data published by the Statistical Office on 10 July, with total waste volumes declining 13% year on year. The figures include waste generated across multiple sectors, including agriculture, mining, manufacturing, electricity production, water and waste services, construction and other economic activities.
Mining and Construction Remain Major Waste Sources
Despite the annual decline, overall waste generation remains substantial due to the large volumes of low-value bulk materials produced by industries such as mining, quarrying, thermal power generation and construction.
The scale of industrial waste generation highlights continued demand for environmental infrastructure services, including industrial waste characterisation, tailings and ash management, construction-waste recycling, secondary raw-material recovery and environmental monitoring systems aligned with EU requirements.
Environmental Standards Increase Infrastructure Requirements
For industrial companies and infrastructure developers, waste-management requirements are becoming increasingly important as Serbian exporters, industrial facilities and construction projects face stricter expectations from lenders and European Union supply-chain standards. Investments in waste-handling and resource-recovery systems are expected to become more relevant as companies adapt to higher environmental compliance requirements.
Upcoming Economic Indicators to Track Industrial Activity
The next major statistical releases are scheduled for July, beginning with the June consumer-price index on 13 July. On 15 July, the Statistical Office is expected to publish May industrial-turnover and building-permit data, providing further information on price developments, industrial activity and the progress of Serbia’s construction and investment cycle during the second half of 2026.
