Strategic Moves - Regional Environmental Center for Central and ...

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C H A P T E R 2
S TAT U S O F E N V I R O N M E N TA L I N F R A S T R U C T U R E I N T H E S E E R E G I O N
S T R AT E G I C M O V E S
eight recycling centres and 26 smaller recycling units, and up to five composting facilities.
The construction of a regional recycling centre at the location of the existing
landfill in Podgorica is under way, with a capacity of 90,000 tonnes of mixed
municipal waste per year. Feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments
on six regional sanitary landfill locations were finalised and projects are being designed.
According to the EC, alignment with European standards needs to be
strengthened and accelerated, in particular concerning the Landfill Directive and
the Waste Shipments Regulation (EC SEC [2009] 1336).
Currently there is only one sanitary landfill in Serbia. According to the 2003 Waste
Management Strategy, Serbia needs 29 regional sanitary landfills, 44 transfer stations,
17 recycling centres, seven or more composting facilities, and four incinerators. There
are five ongoing regional projects in which several municipalities will use the same
landfill: Duboko landfill serving Cacak, Uzice and seven minor towns; and Muntina
Padina landfill serving four municipalities in the Pirot region. These two publicly
owned regional landfills are expected to be commissioned by the end of 2009.
General observations
• The condition of the physical environmental infrastructure varies among the
SEE countries. Croatia is ahead of other countries in the region, especially in
terms of wastewater treatment infrastructure. However, there is a big margin
for improvement in all countries.
• Water supply infrastructure in SEE is at a relatively satisfactory level, especially
in urban areas, while sewerage, wastewater treatment and waste management infrastructure
are far less developed and in a worse physical condition.
• Common problems facing the water sector in SEE countries include a relatively
low level of drinking water supply in rural areas; big water losses due to ageing
infrastructure; and significant levels of unaccounted-for water (Uf W).
• Waste management infrastructure in SEE is inadequate. There are only a few
landfills in the region that comply with EU regulations and there are a huge
number of low-standard illegal dumpsites or landfills.
• Urban areas in the SEE region are relatively well covered by waste collection
and transportation services, in contrast to rural areas.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia have made the biggest progress in
terms of project preparation for regional sanitary landfills, while Croatia and
Kosovo (as defined under UNSCR 1244) have been successful in closing and
remediating the biggest number of non-sanitary landfills. Closing and remediating
old illegal dumpsites is a precondition for establishing new waste management
centres.