Budva changes the price list of utility services after eight years: Garbage collection more expensive

In the future, the utility company will charge garbage collection prices according to a new, higher price list for utility services for both citizens and businesses, making Budva, the last of the Montenegrin municipalities, to align its price list with the Government's regulation.

The increase in the price of garbage disposal at the Možura regional landfill, the rise in consumer prices, the increase in fuel prices, and other costs, and above all the obligation to align the price list with the Government regulation, were the reasons cited by the Board of Directors of this largest municipal company to increase prices.

The green light for the new price list was given by the parliamentary majority at the last session of the local parliament, which brought about a change in the prices of services of this largest municipal company after almost eight years. The opposition, part of those who came to the parliamentary session, opposed the decision.

Director of the Public Utility Company Marija Jovićević She told "Vijesti" that the main reason for adopting a new price list for utility services is the necessity of harmonization with the legal and by-laws adopted by the Government of Montenegro in the second half of last year.

"Also, the price list for utility services in Budva has not been changed since 2018. Since then, the price for individuals has been 0,0648 euros per square meter and is the lowest in Montenegro. In the previous eight years, there has been a significant increase in business costs. The growth rate of consumer prices is 39 percent higher, the growth rate of fuel and lubricants is 15 percent higher, the growth rate of average gross salaries is 60 percent higher. Since January 2026, the Možura regional landfill has increased its price by 35 percent," Jovićević emphasized.

Speaking about the legal obligation to harmonize prices, Jovićević indicated that in September 2025, the Government of Montenegro adopted the Regulation on Amendments to the Regulation on Detailed Elements and Methodology for Determining the Prices of Utility Services.

"This created a legal obligation to harmonize prices in accordance with Article 6 of the aforementioned Regulation and the Law on Communal Services. All companies are obliged to harmonize their price lists. DOO Komunalno, in accordance with the regulation, applied the prescribed calculation, which resulted in a price of 0,10 euros per square meter for natural persons. The resulting price for natural persons is also subject to the corrective factor prescribed by the Regulation in relation to the prescribed type of activity for legal persons," Jovićević pointed out.

Despite the price increase, as Jovićević points out, Budva still has the lowest prices in Montenegro.

"The price in Budva is the lowest both among coastal municipalities and at the level of Montenegro. Compared to other coastal municipalities, in Tivat the price was 0,08 euros / m², and now it is 0,109 € / m², in Bar it was 0,080 euros / m², and now it is 0,12 euros / m², while in Kotor it was 0,085 euros / m², and now it is 0,157 euros / m. When compared with other municipalities in the country. After the correction when creating the new price list of DOO Komunalno Budva, the minimum real business costs were taken, in order to ensure the sustainability of the system, while at the same time maintaining the most favorable price level for citizens and the economy," emphasized Jovićević.

Challenges of the summer season

The Budva municipal company faces its biggest challenges during the summer season, when the city has 150 thousand inhabitants, and the city needs to be kept clean, and several hundred tons of various waste must be taken to the regional landfill in the Bar municipality every day.

"Additional difficulties are the disposal of bulky waste despite the ban in force from May 15 to October 1, as well as narrow and busy city streets, traffic jams and difficult accessibility to certain container stations. However, with good work organization and a responsible attitude of all citizens, we believe that we will successfully respond to the challenges of the upcoming summer season," said Jovićević.