Pljevlja's "Čistoća" in the red for the first time

The municipal company "Čistoća" in Pljevlja ended last year with a negative financial result, which is the first time in the last seven years that the company has operated at a loss.

According to official data, the net result after taxation was -66.476,48 euros.

The company claims that the key reasons for this outcome lie in the "strong growth of operating costs", but also in the company's inability for many years to legally propose a new price list for the collection, transport and disposal of municipal waste. The approval of the new price list, which foresees an increase in garbage collection prices for the citizens of Pljevlja by 41 percent, was recently adopted by the local parliament.

They point out that they charged for garbage collection services based on the price list adopted on December 16, 2020, which has not been changed since then.

"This means that from the beginning of 2021 until the end of 2025, the company provided its services at prices based on 2020 costs, despite drastic changes in the market," the company, which is run by the executive director, claims. Gordana Lekić.

They recall that in the period from 2021 to 2025, there was a pronounced increase in prices, culminating in 2022, when, according to Monstat data, the annual inflation rate was 17,2 percent. Some expenditure items increased by more than 100 percent during that period. In particular, the costs of fuel, energy and energy sources, consumables, occupational safety equipment, insurance, maintenance and spare parts increased.

Additional pressure on the expenditure side of the budget was also posed by wage costs.

The financial result in 2025 was also negatively affected by the decline in the volume of commercial work, primarily construction and other works carried out under contracts with the Municipality of Pljevlja.

"During 2021 and 2022, the company formed a separate organizational unit and acquired equipment for these tasks, while hiring additional workers. However, the reduction in the scope of work in 2025 led to a situation where the costs of wages, depreciation and maintenance remained, while the revenues on this basis were significantly reduced," the largest municipal public company claims.

Despite all the challenges, they claim, the company has managed to maintain business stability.

In the period from 2019 to 2025, the debt on taxes and contributions was significantly reduced. Already in 2020, for the first time in more than a decade, the Company paid more tax debt than the tax liability calculation for that year.