Mostar waste fire and Split port dispute raise environmental alarms in the Balkans

In Mostar, a fire at the Uborak landfill was brought under control, but the site now requires extensive remediation. Mayor Mario Kordić announced soil sampling will be carried out and warned residents to exercise maximum caution when consuming fruit and vegetables grown in the northern part of the city. The incident follows the accumulation of roughly 120‑250 tonnes of mixed municipal waste, with estimated damages running into tens of millions of convertible marks, prompting the city to seek expert assistance and significant funding.

A subsequent meeting between Kordić and residents of the Zalik neighbourhood outlined a temporary waste‑transfer station plan. Authorities will conduct controlled daily pretovara of mixed waste, followed by thorough disinfection, deratisation and intensified cleaning of the neighbourhood, with a full site rehabilitation scheduled after emergency operations conclude.

In Split, council president Ante Popović publicly criticised mayor Tomislav Šuta for failing to publish the promised environmental impact study for the North port. Popović warned that the return of hazardous waste (troska) could lead to renewed air‑quality violations, recalling past exceedances of arsenic and other pollutants that spurred protests. He also highlighted the stalled €400,000 funding for new air‑quality monitoring stations in several Croatian ports.

In Brčko District, a main water pipe ruptured, forcing temporary reductions in supply to parts of the city. Repairs are expected to be completed by the end of the day, and officials urged residents to use water rationally during the heat wave.

Podgorica’s water utility similarly appealed for responsible water usage, noting summer consumption approaching system capacity and announcing fines for excessive non‑domestic use.

Additionally, a Serbian cultural centre is slated to open in Rijeka, expanding the network of minority cultural facilities in the Primorje‑Gorski County.