Skopje Mayor announces zero tolerance for illegal waste dumping

Skopje Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski has announced a zero-tolerance policy regarding illegal waste disposal following an incident in the Kisela Voda neighborhood. City inspectors caught an individual red-handed dumping construction and bulky waste near containers, resulting in a fine of 500 euros.

To combat the growing issue of illegal dumpsites, the Mayor is initiating procedures to install surveillance cameras in public spaces to facilitate faster identification and sanctioning of offenders. This move follows several recent incidents in the region, including a 22-year-old sanctioned in Shuto Orizare and a woman filmed dumping waste into the Lepenec River.

The situation has highlighted broader systemic challenges, including a shortage of environmental inspectors. Reports indicate that over 50 percent of municipalities in the country lack environmental inspectors, and the State Inspectorate is operating with only 13 inspectors, a number deemed insufficient for national coverage. Discussions regarding whether current fines are high enough to deter irresponsible behavior continue to emerge.