Dangubić: The Regional Waste Management Center is not a landfill, but a modern factory

The potential location for the construction of the Regional Waste Management Center for the north of Montenegro, as proposed by the Government, Municipality and international institutions, is located on the territory of the Zaton Local Community, more precisely at the exit from that settlement in the direction of Berane, before the bridge (Zaton-Brzava) on the Lim.

The central public hearing on the Draft Decision on determining the potential location for the construction of the Regional Waste Management Center Bijelo Polje will be held on May 11th at the premises of the Zaton Local Community. This is a center for municipalities in the northern region, in accordance with the National Waste Management Plan and other applicable regulations.

The Ecology Coordinator of the Zaton Local Community, Duško Dangubić, said that this is a modern, closed-type factory, which will not destroy the environment in any way, and which will create new jobs.

"It is particularly important that reception, selection and recycling would be carried out exclusively indoors, while the rest of the waste would be transported to the central landfill in Podgorica. All procedures, from environmental impact assessment to urban and technical conditions, must be fully compliant with the most modern environmental standards," he noted, recalling that construction would be acceptable only if each of the above procedures confirms that there are no harmful impacts on the environment.

"Locals are aware of the problem of municipal waste management and are ready to make an active contribution to solving it. For years, we have been struggling with improper waste disposal and irresponsible individuals. Unfortunately, this trend is gaining momentum, because waste is being disposed of along roads, in river basins and streams, which directly pollutes drinking water sources," said Dangubić.

He pointed out that it is devastating to find that there are almost no bacteriologically clean springs in Montenegro.

"International studies show that, although we are not the largest producers of waste, we are the first in Europe in terms of its visibility. We are aware that this problem must be solved systematically," he stressed.

Dangubić pointed out that the potential location on cadastral plots registered in the Crnča – Laholo administrative district, next to the main road, is state-owned.

"They have been neglected for decades, and were previously used as a livestock market. A Regional Center could potentially be built at this location according to strict EU rules, which implies processes in closed halls, without a landfill," he said.

Dangubić called on citizens, agricultural producers, farm owners, citizens, the NGO sector, and public services to contribute with suggestions, comments, and criticisms and thus jointly contribute to the closure of Chapter 27, faster entry into the EU, and reduction of waste disposal costs, as well as the creation of new jobs for the residents of Zaton and Bijelo Polje in this modern factory.

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.