Shqipëria Posted on 2025-06-13 13:10:00

Waste in Vlora, disposal in Sherishte begins - Project 24.95 million euros, solution until 2047. Closure of the existing field, still without a deadline

From Ola Mitre

Waste in Vlora, disposal in Sherishte begins - Project 24.95 million euros,

The new Sherishta Landfill in Vlora has officially begun the deposit of urban waste, as part of the functionalization of the new infrastructure for waste management in the city, while there is still no concrete deadline for when the closure of the existing field will begin, which has been engulfed in flames for years, raising concerns about Vlora's image as a tourist destination and the short- and long-term environmental consequences.

"There was a delay of 2 years, but today I am happy that with the work that the municipality has done and of course in full cooperation with the German Embassy and KFW, we managed to make it possible to put the first landfill cell into operation. We call it a partial start because we only throw urban waste into this landfill", - says Ermal Dredha, Mayor of Vlora.

Lanfdfilli is part of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Program in Vlora of the German Financial Cooperation, with a total value of 24.96 million euros, of which 12 million euros are loans provided by KFW and the rest are grants. This program aims to create an integrated and modern waste management system for Vlora and Selenica, including the introduction of modern separation to recover recyclable materials.

"The Sherishta landfill, together with this center where it is envisaged to differentiate waste into recyclable and non-recyclable, is intended to be the solution for integrated waste management in the city of Vlora in the next 20 years."

The closure of illegal landfills scattered throughout the region is the other component of this program, which runs until 2027. However, the mayor of Vlora prefers not to give a concrete deadline for the finalization of this phase.

Dredha: We are doing a pilot operation there, with the aim of doing as much as we can, with local means or with the means we have at our disposal. This is more to serve to avoid fires during the tourist season.

Question: When will we no longer see such fires in Vlora?

Dredha: The maximum we see is the moment the procedure is completed. In cooperation with KFW, it will be encapsulated and turned into an eco-park, that is, a recreational park.

Once the Vlora Waste Management Center is fully operational, it is expected to ensure environmentally safe waste disposal until 2047. Also, 5,400 tons of recyclable materials will be recovered annually through the new separation plant, while 4,200 tons per year of green waste will be processed by the new composting plant, which will also need to be built.

For the German KFW, this initiative will significantly contribute to the practice of sustainable waste management in Albania, supporting the national waste strategy and advancing the country's compliance with European Union environmental standards. This is because it includes the concepts of waste prevention, recycling and recovery, with the aim of supporting the transition to a circular economy initiated by the EU.

 

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