Two weeks of overflowing containers in Podujevo

Uncollected waste for two weeks has created a serious situation in several villages in Podujevo, where containers are overflowing and waste is scattered around. Residents complain about odors and hygiene problems, while the Municipality blames the company "Pastrimi" for mismanagement and lack of capacity.

The garbage containers in the village of Penuhë in Podujevo have turned into a hotbed of stench after two weeks of not being collected. Residents have said that, in addition to the strong smell, the garbage is also being scattered around.

"They haven't come for two weeks, the situation is now, meaning the containers are full, now stray dogs are coming and scattering it, I have to pick it up. They haven't come to take anything for two weeks. This is the situation. It's terrible," said Bahri Hyseni, a resident of the village of Penuhë.

 Residents of other villages in Podujevo, as well as parts of the city that are under the responsibility of the public enterprise "Pastrimi", are facing the same situation.

Residents of the village of Sekiraq have expressed concern about the situation created by the lack of waste collection and have said that the same situation has existed since the beginning of the year.

"As citizens, we are quite correct with the payments and the responsibilities that fall to us and we are ready to collect and we try to do it as cleanly as possible in an emancipatory way. But there is a delay on their part... As a result of them, infections can also occur," said Besim Selmani, a resident of the village of Sekiraqë.

also Arberi 5 August 2026 Podujevo declares state of emergency due to waste

Isak Ejupi – a resident of the village and assemblyman of the Democratic League of Kosovo, said that the waste is on the streets, in containers, and the Municipality does not come to collect it for two or three weeks.

"We are having trouble because stray dogs, cats and other animals are moving them around the neighborhood, around the village and then we really have to collect them again and put them in containers. That is, there is also the smell if we add to this, it is a problem that has already become routine and a concern for all residents," he said.

The Municipality of Podujeva has said that the delays in waste collection are caused by mismanagement by the public enterprise "Pastrimi".

The Director of Public Services, Bahri Selimi, said that the management of this company has not serviced the trucks that were in operation for months.

"We would have to operate with 7 trucks in order to collect in real time the entire territory of our municipality, taking into account a very large territory with many villages, and the exact requirement and need is to operate with 7 trucks. Now today as we speak we are operating with 2 trucks.... 5 trucks from our unit are in the services of the KRM 'Pastrimi'... 5 trucks have been sent there, they are waiting, for months, it is not a matter of weeks, for months they have been waiting to be fixed and returned to operation", said Selimi.

also Arberi July 14, 2026 Podujevo villages are covered in garbage

Selimi emphasized that they are in talks with private companies to expand the territories it covers. The KRM "Pastrimi" has admitted that some trucks are out of service due to technical defects and lack of repair parts.

"The servicing process is ongoing, while some of the delays are also related to the provision of necessary parts and the high maintenance costs of the existing fleet, which is depreciated after long years of intensive operation. However, it is important to note that very soon, within about two weeks, a tender for equipment with a new operational fleet is expected to be announced, which will directly affect the increase in capacities and the long-term stabilization of the service," the response reads.