Mostar waste crisis escalates as illegal dumping overwhelms city

Bosnia and Herzegovina has long struggled with improper waste disposal, and the city of Mostar now faces a critical collapse of its municipal waste system. Overfilled containers, unregulated dump sites and piles of trash along streets and near natural areas have intensified, prompting health and environmental concerns. Municipal workers are forced to handle the waste manually under hazardous conditions, often without adequate equipment, leading to physical strain and exposure to harmful substances. The crisis is compounded by political disputes; the city’s mayor has accused opposition councilors of deliberately slowing waste collection, while a municipal waste company undergoes restructuring and internal divisions. Union representatives have warned that the situation could become a full‑scale collapse of services unless immediate and effective measures are taken to stabilize waste management, improve worker safety and enforce proper disposal practices.