The Ministry of Environmental Protection announced late last night that a malfunction occurred in the collection shaft of the “Duboko” landfill lagoon near Užice, causing leachate to spill into the Turski Potok stream.
The citizens’ association “Da ne dišemo Duboko” (“Let’s Not Breathe Duboko”) reported on its X social media account that more than 800 cubic meters of concentrated contaminated water leaked from the landfill. According to their claims, the relevant authorities only responded after the association filed a complaint.
“Only after the report from ‘Da ne dišemo Duboko’ did the police and municipal inspectors arrive. The acting mayor stated that a pipe had burst, but did not explain why no one addressed the malfunction for ten hours,” the association stated.
The association had already warned the public in November about the risk of an ecological disaster and urged the management of JKP “Duboko” to urgently implement the measures required by the relevant inspections, warning that inaction could have serious consequences for the environment and human health.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection issued a statement late last night, noting that the accident was caused by a malfunction in the collection shaft of the “Duboko” landfill lagoon.
“According to the latest information from the authorities provided to the Ministry, the cause of the accident in Turski Potok, where leachate from the ‘Duboko’ landfill was spilled, was a rupture of the protective balloon in the collection shaft of the lagoon,” the Ministry said on Facebook.
The Ministry stated that repair teams have been sent to the site to fix the malfunction as quickly as possible and prevent further consequences, and that they are in constant contact with the Ecological Crime Suppression Unit of the Užice Police Department, whose teams conducted a criminal-technical inspection at the scene.
It was also reported that the case has been forwarded to the Republican Water Inspector, who has initiated proceedings under his jurisdiction to determine the facts and any potential violations of regulations. The Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Užice has also been informed and will, as stated, involve the Institute of Public Health for water sampling and analysis.
The Duboko landfill near Užice was conceived as a regional waste management center to consolidate the needs of nine local municipalities and provide safe, controlled, and long-term waste disposal in accordance with applicable regulations and European standards. The project was presented for years as an example of good practice in municipal infrastructure and environmental protection.
However, shortly after operations began, it became clear that the landfill’s capacity was not aligned with the amount of waste delivered daily. By the mid-2010s, problems with landfill stability, landfill gas emissions, leaks, and landslides were already being recorded, indicating serious deficiencies in design, management, and oversight. Instead of systematically addressing these problems, operations continued with temporary and insufficiently transparent measures.
Over the years, certain sections of the landfill were closed, but waste disposal continued without adequate permits and with increased environmental risk. An additional problem arose when key permits expired in 2023, after which the landfill continued operating without a clear legal basis. Despite warnings from experts and authorities, information about the actual state of the landfill was not made public.
In February 2024, the construction inspector issued a decision prohibiting landfill operations due to immediate danger to human life and health. However, this decision was neither enforced nor timely published, further deepening suspicions of institutional cover-up. Only a few months later, in May 2024, a large fire broke out within the landfill, causing severe air pollution in Užice and surrounding areas for almost three weeks.
The fire and prolonged presence of smoke triggered strong public reactions, protests, blockades, and legal proceedings, making the Duboko landfill one of the key environmental and political issues in the region. Although the landfill was officially closed in November 2024, the public only learned in December about the prior inspection decision that had prohibited its operation.
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Source:Nova, Foto: Nova