Due to the long isolation period and the development of various industry sectors, the contamination of land and additional negative environmental impacts have been continuous and severe in the period 1950-1990 for Albania. Based on data published in literature, this review is a first attempt to put together the natural resources and the sites where the ore minerals have been treated in Albania in order to address issues related to the sustainable development. However, the intervention of the government to minimize the adversity left behind from the former industry in the form of resource conservation subsidies or depletion taxes for new investors, might improve the present environmental situation. The use of cost benefit analysis to evaluate the development in conjunction with sustainable use of natural resources might minimize the adversary effects of the past. Since other factors, such as the financial constrains, play an important role in the equation, the aid of the foreign investors or international institutions shall also be supported and assisted by the Albanian authorities.