24 October 2011
AMMK has found that the situation at the landfill is quite serious due to poor management as well as other factors. During the visit it was observed that the pumps for the treatment of wastewater have not been put into use since 2007. As a result, the mixing of wastewater with surface water occurs. Although there is a lagoon for collecting water from the landfill, it does not function at all due to the uncompacted waste dumped near the lagoon. Consequently, the water level in the landfill has reached a level of 9-15 m.
Another concern that has been highlighted especially recently is the burning of waste in the landfill, which has also affected air pollution in this area. As a consequence of these factors, there is a strong stench in the landfill and conditions exist that facilitate the spread of various diseases and epidemics. The assessment of AMMK is that the current management of the landfill is at a very low level and does not comply with the applicable standards for landfill management. This situation has also prompted the Environmental Inspectorate at the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning to initiate a procedure for an infringement against the Kosovo Landfill Management Company, which is responsible for managing this landfill.
In order to improve the situation, AMMK recommends that the lagoon be reactivated for the treatment of landfill waters, that the pumping system be activated in order to eliminate the mixing of landfill waters with surface waters, that the burning of waste be stopped, and that all waste in the landfill be compacted. AMMK also suggests that the monitoring of the level of air and water pollution in this area be carried out in order to determine the quality of air and water.
The Sanitary Landfill for the Pristina Region, located in Mirash, Obiliq, was built in 2005 with the help of the European Agency for Reconstruction. The landfill covers an area of about 40 hectares and is dedicated to the collection of waste from the municipalities of Pristina, Obiliq, Lipjan, Fushë Kosova, and Gllogovc. The landfill is designed to accept waste with a total capacity of 3,500,000 m³. The operational duration of this landfill is planned for 15 years.