A regional landfill is planned in Zaton

The location in the Zaton Local Community in Bijelo Polje, along the Bijelo Polje - Berane main road, has been identified as a potential location for the design and construction of a Regional Waste Management Center for municipalities in the northern region, in accordance with the National Waste Management Plan and other applicable regulations.

This, among other things, is stated in the Draft Decision on Determining a Potential Location for the Construction of a Regional Landfill. "Vijesti" has learned that the location is planned in the town of Dubovo, and a public debate has been organized on this document until May 11th.

The National Waste Management Plan for the period 2025-2029 envisages the construction of regional centers in four municipalities: Podgorica, Bar, Nikšić and Bijelo Polje. It is defined that the Bijelo Polje center will be used by all municipalities in the north of the country. The plans envisage that all four centers will be completed by the end of 2026.

The ultimate goal is to have a minimal amount of waste end up in landfills, that is, only that which cannot be recycled. Before Dubovo was proposed as the final solution, Čelinska kosa was considered as the location for the construction of this center in Bijelo Polje.

The potential location, as stated, includes cadastral plots 2229, 2230, part of cadastral plot 2232, as well as plots 2233 and 2234. They are registered in the list of real estate of the cadastral municipality of Crnča-Laholo, which are owned by the state.

The document states that the location was determined based on the parameters of traffic accessibility and other existing communal infrastructure located in the immediate vicinity, as well as the proposal of the municipal commission, in cooperation with the competent state administration bodies, and in particular the ministry responsible for ecology and environmental protection.

"The Bijelo Polje Regional Waste Management Center is planned as a modern, closed system for the selection and recycling of municipal waste, temporary storage of recycled materials, processing, reprocessing, creation of a new product and further sale, without establishing a classic landfill, in accordance with European Union standards," the document states.

It is stated that the implementation of the project is conditioned by the preparation of analyses and studies, an environmental impact assessment report, conducting a public hearing, obtaining urban and technical conditions, as well as consents and permits from competent authorities, and compliance with valid planning documentation.

"The Municipality of Bijelo Polje, in cooperation with the Government and local government units of the northern region, will undertake further activities in the preparation and implementation of the Regional Center construction project."

The document reminds that local government units, in accordance with the Law on Waste Management, are obliged to provide conditions for organized and sustainable waste management, including regional solutions.

"The proposed potential location in the Zaton settlement was determined based on parameters and initial analyses that included spatial conditions, undeveloped space and terrain configuration, traffic accessibility, distance from populated areas, existing utility infrastructure located in the immediate vicinity of the location, as well as basic ecological and hydrological criteria," the Decision states, with an important note that it is a modern closed-type facility, development of a circular economy, recycling on a larger scale, creation of new jobs, protection of natural resources for future generations, all with the aim of reducing the amount of waste and without creating landfills in the northern region, which is in line with environmental protection principles and EU standards," the Draft states.