They will block the main gate of the "Deponija" from Saturday: Citizens claim that waste is being dumped beyond the limits

Residents of a settlement near Podgorica's "Deponija" have decided to launch a complete blockade starting Saturday, dissatisfied with the way waste is being disposed of, claiming that it is being done beyond the company's intended boundaries, they told "Vijesti" unofficially.

They will gather every day from 15 to 20 pm at the main gate of the "Deponija" company.

They blocked part of the street leading to the landfill last Friday, saying that their environment and health are being threatened by improper waste disposal, unpleasant odors, and that there is a major problem with the standard of living for the residents of those settlements. According to them, people who are engaged in livestock farming are having their animals poisoned, and those who are engaged in agriculture are seeing the prices of their products fall. They say that the price of land has also fallen “because no one wants to buy land next to the landfill.”

The director of that Podgorica company Aleksandar Božović told "Vijesti" that he is ready to listen to all suggestions and proposals from citizens and, within the framework of legal and technical possibilities, respond to them.

When asked whether some kind of agreement had been reached between him and the locals on Friday, he said that so far no formal agreements had been reached that would change legal obligations or plans.

"...But we are open to further discussions and cooperation," said Božović, adding that the company regularly communicates with representatives of local communities that gravitate to the Landfill area, through meetings, public discussions and other forms of dialogue.

Locals, however, claim that waste is being disposed of improperly and outside the designated boundaries of the landfill. They say they are faced with unbearable odors and suspect that, along with the disposal of municipal waste, animal waste is being handled inadequately. This is why, they point out, they have been forced to completely block the site since Thursday, because they believe that otherwise no one would have considered their requests.

"Deponija" claims that waste is disposed of on the territory exclusively within the boundaries stipulated by the spatial plan and urban-technical documentation.

"Respect for spatial boundaries and prescribed disposal technologies is strictly controlled and any other action would be illegal. The Landfill Company operates transparently and in accordance with all supervisory procedures of the competent institutions," said the director of the company.

Citizens, on the other hand, express concern about the planned construction of a fifth waste disposal tank at the landfill, assessing that the project will further worsen the situation, and they also state that it is unacceptable for the landfill to receive waste from other cities.

The company responds that the construction of the fifth bath is not a matter of choice, but a legal and planning obligation.

"It has been included in the spatial plan, all necessary urban and technical conditions have been obtained for it, and a tender procedure has been conducted, in which the most favorable bidder has been selected. The fifth tank must be built in order to ensure continuous and safe waste disposal services. Otherwise, as many as nine municipalities would be left without the possibility of adequate waste disposal, which would have incalculable consequences for public health and the environment," they point out.

The landfill adds that it is true that waste is also brought in from other cities because it was designed and functions as a regional landfill.

"This means that this is a central facility for waste disposal from multiple municipalities, not just Podgorica. In this way, the national strategy and legal obligation of regionalizing the waste management system are being implemented," Božović's response states.

While locals claim that animal waste is disposed of inadequately, the Landfill, however, claims that this type of waste is disposed of and treated in accordance with applicable regulations.

"We respect all sanitary, veterinary and environmental standards. We act according to strictly defined procedures under the supervision of the competent services. We are open to cooperation and discussions and are ready to further improve the transparency of work and communication with the local population. However, there are requirements that cannot be met because they would mean violating legal obligations or disabling the functioning of the waste management system, which is of vital importance for several municipalities and the entire population," said Božović.

He added that the company will remain consistent with its core goal - to manage waste in a legal, safe and sustainable manner, protecting the health of citizens and the environment.

"At the same time, we will continue to foster open communication with local communities and look for ways to further improve the system and reduce the impact on the immediate environment," said the company's director.