The most important recycling and collecting companies founded Recyclers Association of Serbia in 2013. Purpose of association is to protect interests of recyclers and collectors by organising common activities of promotion of environmental protection, as well as to continue development of recycling industry through a partnership dialogue with the Government of Serbia.
The association is actively working on the education of citizens and cooperation with the media in order to raise social awareness about the environment and the importance of recycling.
In recycling industry is employed more than 16.000 people. Today, there are about 2,200 issued licenses to companies for collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of waste in Serbia, while there were only 200 in 2009.
In addition to experts, engineers, and ecologists, the recycling industry employs secondary raw material collectors across the country, often from marginalized social groups, and provides them with social protection and includes them in legal channels.