Montenegro waste management and infrastructure

Montenegro is addressing various aspects of its waste management and environmental infrastructure. In Nikšić, the Kapino Polje wastewater treatment plant is struggling with operational issues and incomplete repairs to its pre-treatment lines due to a lack of financial resources and the dissolution of its original construction company.

To address regional needs, construction is underway for a new wastewater treatment plant in Botun, near Podgorica. The project, managed by the Turkish company KUZU, is expected to be operational by 2028 and is viewed as a necessary step for meeting EU accession environmental standards.

Data from the Environmental Protection Agency indicates that residents generate an average of 1.6 kilograms of municipal waste daily. Total municipal waste collection rose by 4.5 percent in 2024 compared to 2023. While municipal waste increased, industrial waste saw a 10.4 percent decrease, with the electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply sector remaining the largest industrial waste contributor.