Striving for EU membership, the Republic of Serbia must adjust its waste
management practices to comply with EU directives, including targets to
reduce biodegradable waste disposal in landfills, as outlined in its Waste
Management Program 2022 - 2031. Cadmium and lead, two highly toxic heavy
metals, that are present in municipal solid waste, can pose high
environmental and human health threats if not properly managed. The research
evaluates how different technologies for biodegradable waste treatment
influence the transformation of cadmium and lead flows through waste
management systems. Hence, two waste management scenarios were modelled and
developed for the Republic of Serbia, where the flows of cadmium and lead
are monitored. The results indicate the differences between quantities and
concentrations of cadmium and lead emitted in environmental media, thus
confirming the various impacts of different waste technologies on achieving
the vital goal of waste management - protection of the human health and the
environment. The research concludes the crucial role of the versatile
approach, where the quality of waste management outputs are highlighted.