As the city opens its doors to thousands of tourists, one of its biggest challenges – that of garbage – has begun to be addressed with the opening of the Sherishta Landfill. An investment supported by the German government that aims to put an end to the usual scenes of pollution and unpleasant odors at the peak of the season.
"We have started using the first cell of the Sherishta landfill. In the three months of summer we reach up to 600 tons of waste per day. The landfill is designed for 20 years of use and will be expanded with four cells in total," said Ermal Dredha, mayor of Vlora.
With a fund of 25 million euros, of which 12 million are loans from KfW and the rest are grants, this project is among the largest undertaken in the south of the country for waste management. But the work does not stop there. The second phase is the establishment of the Waste Management Center, where waste will be separated into recyclable and non-recyclable – a step towards a circular economy and cleaner cities.
"The landfill and the waste processing center constitute an integrated system that aims to bring sustainable solutions to the city," added Dredha.
The final phase? The final closure of the old garbage field, an urban blight in the middle of Vlora that was engulfed in flames a few days ago.
"We are carrying out emergency interventions with the means we have, but the final encapsulation project is scheduled to be completed by 2027. There are 40 years of composted waste there - only magic can promise that the fire will not happen again," declared Dredha.
The summer season is a real test – with an influx of tourists and tons of waste that are added daily. On the other hand, the old landfill, still active and uncovered, carries the risk of fires and pollution for the city. It is promised to be closed by 2027, but in this battle against garbage, time often works against it. (A2 Televizion)
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