Dozens of illegal landfills in Bar will be covered by video surveillance after "Communal Services" recently received approval from the Agency for Personal Data Protection and Free Access to Information to install the system.
Cameras should be installed in locations identified as hotspots for improper waste disposal, in order to combat the problem and strengthen punitive policies.
Illegal small and large landfills throughout the Bar municipality are one of the most common reasons why citizens contact "Vijesti", and their appeals to emphasize this problem are becoming more frequent as the summer tourist season approaches.
From "Communal Services Bar", which he manages Stevo Pejović, told the editorial staff that illegal dumps appear sporadically throughout the year and that their teams react immediately upon learning of them or upon reporting them by citizens.
These are most often small and medium-sized landfills in suburban areas and in locations that are not covered by regular waste disposal.
During the previous period, as they stated, they rehabilitated several locations that had been a problem for years, and some of them, after cleaning and landscaping, were transformed into well-maintained viewpoints and resting places for citizens and visitors.
"Also, at several critical locations along the Bar - Ulcinj main road, between Veliki Pijesak and Utjeha, we have placed concrete elements to prevent access to trucks that were improperly dumping waste," they emphasized.
In the town of Zagrađe, in the area of the Katič Nature Park, large amounts of improperly disposed waste were recently removed and an area that had been endangered by the reckless behavior of individuals was rehabilitated.
In February of this year, workers from the "Communal Services" also cleaned up a mini-landfill near the cemetery in the Zupci settlement. On that occasion, they stated that "such actions represent vandalism of religious and sacred places and show a serious lack of basic culture and respect, and that they will not allow someone's impudence to turn a cemetery into a landfill."
Speaking about the video surveillance for which they received approval from the Agency for Personal Data Protection and Free Access to Information, they told the editorial staff that the system installation process is ongoing, so it is still too early to talk about concrete results.
"However, we expect that video surveillance will represent a significant step forward in controlling the area, identifying perpetrators and reducing the number of cases of improper waste disposal, which will contribute to more efficient waste management in the territory of the municipality of Bar," "Communal Services Bar" told "Vijesti".
Supervision yielded results
Mini-landfills, which have been a perennial problem for local services and citizens in the Bar settlement of Šušanj, are still present in at least five locations this year. However, one of the most critical - near the water supply station at the turnoff to the Green Belt - was successfully remediated through the cooperation of services and citizens.
The people of Šušanj cleaned up the location themselves several times last summer, posted warnings... This yielded partial results, but since the installation of video surveillance at that "black spot", the problem has almost been completely resolved.
The long-term solution to the problem of mini-dumps in this Bar settlement lies precisely in the combination of stricter control and sanctioning of unscrupulous individuals, along with continuous education of citizens about the importance of proper waste disposal and preservation of common space.
The decision of some residents of Šušanj to dispose of their waste in places not designated for that purpose has often caused arguments in the neighborhood. Thus, at the entrances to some side streets, dozens of garbage bags can be seen every day, as well as bulky waste, natural, construction and rubble.
For “Communal Services”, solving the problem of mini-landfills at some of the locations is a challenge due to the lack of municipal or state land available for that purpose, and the proximity of locations where waste is improperly disposed of.
Therefore, the citizens with whom "Vijesti" spoke say that they have understanding for "Communal Services", because their employees generally clean these locations regularly, even though they are not part of their "regular activities". They point out that the problem lies with unscrupulous neighbors, as well as tourists who follow the bad example of the locals.
This often led to harsh words, the interviewee said, adding that on a few occasions they took bags of waste directly to the main Šušanjska Street in order to draw attention to the problem, but it turned out to be unsuccessful.
More trash during the season
When asked by "Vijesti" what challenges "Communal Services" are facing in the run-up to the summer season when it comes to waste management, they replied that the summer months traditionally bring an increase in the amount of municipal waste and greater demands in terms of maintaining public hygiene.
"We are carrying out preparations in accordance with the operational plans defined by the Company's Work Program, through the organization of additional activities, work schedules, and the engagement of all available resources."
They state that they have the necessary machinery, equipment and workforce to respond to increased needs during the tourist season.
"We believe that we are ready to welcome the summer and that we will adequately respond to all the challenges that await us."
Although, as they say, there has been noticeable progress when it comes to citizens' attitude towards the environment and proper waste disposal, "there are still a certain number of unscrupulous individuals whose behavior creates problems and additional costs."
Therefore, they almost daily send initiatives to the Municipal Police and the Inspectorate to take action at locations where improper waste disposal is recorded, and they believe that, in addition to regular maintenance and education, "it is necessary to consistently sanction violators in order to improve the situation in this area in the long term."
Clean beaches too
The work that “Communal Services Bar” performs in the coastal zone is defined by a contract concluded with the Public Company for the Management of the Coastal Zone. In accordance with the contracted obligations, their company removes waste from beaches and other areas in the coastal zone, cleans and washes public areas, maintains green areas, and maintains public lighting.
"The volume of work is particularly pronounced during the tourist season, when the frequency of users of beaches and public areas increases manifold, which is why activities are organized according to an increased work regime," the company said.
This company, as the Municipality of Bar told the newspaper, collected more than 300 thousand euros from the Public Company Morsko dobro last year for the work they perform in their zone, and they earned an additional over 20 thousand euros by maintaining unleased beaches.
They also perform certain tasks based on contracts with other institutions and space managers. In addition to cooperation with the Public Company Morsko dobro, one of the most important forms of cooperation is with the National Parks of Montenegro, namely in the area of the Skadar Lake National Park.
"The principle of cooperation is based on clearly defined contractual obligations, which specify the scope of work, maintenance standards, method of execution and financial obligations of the contracting parties," they stated.
Depending on the needs and jurisdiction of individual institutions, they provide public hygiene maintenance services, waste collection and other communal activities in areas that are not under the direct jurisdiction of local governments.
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