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Balkan region faces rising waste management and illegal dumping crises
Municipalities across the Balkan region are facing significant challenges regarding waste management and the rise of illegal landfills.
In Montenegro, the public utility company GP Deponija reported record-breaking waste levels this summer. Monthly waste exceeded 12,000 tons for the first time, with July seeing a peak daily volume of 550 tons. Officials noted that all municipalities except Šavnik experienced an increase in municipal waste, with an overall growth of 4.7 percent compared to the previous eight-month period.
In Croatia, the management of construction waste is in crisis. Since 2015, construction waste has increased by approximately 73 percent, reaching 2.06 million tons in 2024. This surge has led to the proliferation of illegal dumping sites due to insufficient local infrastructure. Furthermore, reporting systems are struggling to keep pace; since 2020, over 21,000 locations of dumped waste have been reported, but 2,636 of those reports remain unprocessed.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, officials have highlighted the health and environmental risks posed by illegal landfills. These sites often contain hazardous materials that can contaminate soil and water sources, particularly when waste is burned, releasing harmful particles into the air.
Entities
Anela Ajšić · GP Deponija · Ratko Pavićević · Zagreb · Šavnik
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] All municipalities except Šavnik recorded an increase in municipal waste. borba.me
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Out of reported trash locations in Croatia, 2,636 reports were never processed. www.monitor.hr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] July recorded a record daily waste level of 550 tons. borba.me
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Construction waste in Croatia has increased by approximately 73 percent since 2015. www.monitor.hr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The first eight months of the year saw a waste growth of approximately 3,750 tons. borba.me
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Citizens in Croatia have reported over 21,000 locations with dumped trash since 2020. www.monitor.hr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Construction waste reached 2.06 million tons in 2024. www.monitor.hr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Waste levels exceeded 12,000 tons per month for the first time this summer. borba.me