Construction of seven regional waste management centers announced
According to the Law on Waste Management, since 2009, all local governments have been obliged to draw up regional waste management plans, as well as to join forces for the construction of regional landfills. Today, there are 10 regional waste management centers in Serbia, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection has announced the construction of seven additional centers, which will cover a total of 38 cities and municipalities.
The construction of all regional centers through the "Solid Waste Program in Serbia" project will be financed from a loan provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the French Development Agency (AFD).
The said Program covers the construction of regional centers for waste management, namely: Kalenić-UB, Banjica-Nova Varoš, Srem-Mačva - Sremska Mitrovica and Rančevo-Sombor, while the regional centers Duboko-Užice and Pirot - in Pirot will also be upgraded. The regional waste management center in Raška is in the preparatory phase for its establishment.
The Project Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Environmental Protection will receive support in this endeavor by the consortium Aspiro/Naled, led by the company Aspiro, in cooperation/subcontractor with the company Dvoper.
The waste management program in the Republic of Serbia for the period 2022-2031, which was adopted on January 28, 2022, provides the framework and conditions for the establishment and development of an integrated waste management system and defines a maximum of 26 regions where construction of waste management centers is sought.
In addition to ten regional landfills in Užice, Lapovo, Kikinda, Jagodina, Leskovac, Pirot, Sremska Mitrovica, Pančevo, Subotica and Belgrade, in Serbia, along with municipal landfills, the ministry ensured the removal of illegal landfills that do not meet environmental standards. and negatively affect the life and health of citizens. Every year, the Ministry of Environmental Protection allocates considerable funds from the budget, not only for the removal of illegal landfills, but also for finding ways to prevent the creation of new ones in the same or similar locations, which would raise the awareness of all persons who illegally dump waste in places where that is not allowed. Because of all this, it is important to establish a waste management system to stop bad habits.
The project "Solid Waste Program in Serbia" fulfills the goals of the Waste Management Program, as well as part of the Specific Implementation Plans (DSIP) within the Negotiating Chapter 27, with Ministry of Environmental Protection as the lead actor, and therefore directly affects the improvement of the quality of life of citizens Republic of Serbia
In order to fulfill the requirements of the EU and the Green Agenda, it is estimated that the Republic of Serbia needs to invest more than 10 billion euros in environmental infrastructure, of which around 3 billion is for waste alone.
Which local governments will be included in the construction of seven regional centers for waste management?
- Kalenić - Valjevo, Obrenovac, Lazarevac, Ub, Barajevo, Vladimirci, Lajkovac, Mionica, Koceljeva, Osečina, Ljig;
- Duboko - Užice, Čačak, Ivanjica, Požega, Bajina Bašta, Lučani, Čajetina, Arilje and Kosjerić – regional center to be upgraded;
- Banjica - Nova Varoš, Prijepolje, Priboj and Sjenica;
- Srem-Mačva - Ruma, Šid, Sremska Mitrovica, Bogatić and Šabac;
- Pirot - Pirot, Babušnica, Dimitrovgrad and Bela Palanka – regional center to be upgraded;
- Sombor - Sombor, Odžaci, Bač, Apatin and Kula;
- Raška - Raška, Tutin and Novi Pazar.
