Illegal waste disposal in Skopje

Following the viral circulation of video footage showing a woman throwing waste into the Lepenec River near Skopje, North Macedonian police identified and fined the individual for violating the Law on Public Cleanliness and the Law on Road Traffic Safety. The incident prompted public calls for stricter environmental penalties and mandatory community service.

In response, Skopje Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski announced a ‘zero tolerance’ policy regarding illegal dumping. Proposed measures include installing surveillance cameras in over 200 locations, such as parks and playgrounds, and implementing a system to reward citizens who provide photographic evidence. Recent enforcement has also targeted individuals dumping construction waste in neighborhoods like Kisella Vodë and Shuto Orizare.

Recent enforcement actions include a 500-euro fine issued to an individual caught red-handed dumping construction and bulky waste near containers in the Kisela Voda neighborhood. However, the crackdown has highlighted systemic challenges, specifically a critical shortage of environmental inspectors. Reports indicate that over 50 percent of municipalities in the country lack environmental inspectors, and the State Inspectorate is currently operating with only 13 inspectors, a number deemed insufficient for national coverage.

Expanding on these enforcement efforts, Mayor Gjorgjievski announced that legal entities have been issued fines exceeding 80,000 euros for irresponsible waste disposal. He noted that some citizens and companies find it more cost-effective to pay fines than to properly dispose of bulky waste at the Drasla landfill. To mitigate this, the City of Skopje plans to introduce weekly free disposal services for bulky waste for all residents. Additionally, Gjorgjievski emphasized the urgent need for a communal police force, calling on the Assembly to pass the Law on Local Self-Government to enable more effective enforcement.