The Municipality of Podujeva has announced that a state of emergency has been declared due to the worsening situation caused by waste as a result of its lack of cleaning.
According to the announcement, the decision on a state of emergency is valid until November 5 of this year.
The mayor of this municipality, Shpejtim Bulliqi, who is also the head of the Emergency Headquarters for Protection and Rescue, said that it has been several months since waste management in the city and villages has worsened, adding that this is due to mismanagement by the management of the Regional Waste Company "Pastrimi".
According to him, the Regional Waste Company "Pastrimi", due to its inability to provide services in its area of responsibility, previously requested to be released from service in villages and this responsibility was transferred to the private company "Natyra".
"But now it is emerging that there are problems in providing this service in the city as well. There are cases where it operates with one truck, and there are days when it does not provide service at all. Due to this situation that has been created, where we now also have migrants here and the volume of waste has increased and taking into account the health of citizens, I have received a recommendation from the Directorate of Public Services to declare a state of emergency," Bulliqi is quoted as saying during the meeting.
Bulliqi said that he has continuously helped the "Pastrimi" RWC with subsidies, in order to facilitate its normal operation and functioning, but without success.
"Our will is to help this Enterprise, but it is evident that there is mismanagement by the management of this Enterprise in the center. Due to this serious situation, we need to find a quick solution for waste collection in the city," Bulliqi said, among other things.
Based on the decision of the Mayor, the Directorate of Public Services, Protection and Rescue is obliged to draft and implement an emergency operational plan for the organization and coordination of all emergency measures for the collection, transportation and disposal of waste, as well as the initiation of an accelerated procurement procedure for the provision of 3 rental trucks for waste transportation, including 3 drivers, who will operate within the framework of the "Cleaning" WRC.
"Pastrimi" reacts to the Municipality of Podujeva: Tariffs have not changed for almost two decades, we operate at a loss
Photo: Illustration
The Regional Waste Company "Pastrimi" has reacted to the accusations of the mayor of Podujeva, Shpejtim Bulliqi, who has declared a state of emergency due to the worsening waste situation. Bulliqi accused "Pastrimi" of mismanagement.
"Pastrimi" said that the Podujeva Operational Unit did not enter into financial difficulties overnight, but has been operating with a negative balance for some time. He said that the reason is that the waste collection fees in the Podujeva Municipality have not changed since 2008.
"Despite the enormous increase in operating costs, fuel, spare parts, landfill costs, maintenance, salaries and all other expenses, the tariff continues to be only 4.70 euros including VAT (about 3.8 euros net)," Pastrimi wrote.
"Pastrimi" said that no public or private enterprise can function normally when costs increase for almost two decades and revenues remain the same. He said that the Podujeva Unit has never managed to cover employee salaries and operating expenses from revenues alone and that Pristina has always covered the losses.
"Pastrimi" has also accused the Municipality of Podujeva of not fulfilling its financial obligations to the company for the investments made, including the new facility, and this has aggravated the situation. It also said that its customers have also been taken away.
"Today we hear from the Municipality that the enterprise has been subsidized, what is the total value of the subsidy? We are asking a simple question: What value do subsidies have when, on the other hand, the enterprise is deprived of its customers, collections and the opportunity to generate income? It is worrying that a crisis is being created, and then, under the guise of an emergency, the way is being opened for emergency contracts, the engagement of private operators and their financing with public funds. This is not a new phenomenon. Unfortunately, similar scenarios have been seen in other joint-stock municipalities in the Pastrimi RWC. Pastrimi RWC will not allow the inability to address long-standing financial problems to be hidden behind accusations against a public enterprise. Likewise, we will not allow our employees to pay the price of political decisions," the reaction states.
"Pastrimi" has said that all legal means will be used to protect the company, workers and the public interest.
"Any decision that violates the rights of the KRM "Pastrimi" and jeopardizes the existence of the Operational Unit in Podujeva will be challenged in the competent institutions. KRM "Pastrimi" has not been and will not be part of anyone's political calculations. We serve citizens, not political interests. Finally, we express deep concern because the recent actions of the Municipality of Podujeva directly jeopardize jobs and the existence of the Operational Unit in Podujeva. If this approach continues, dozens of workers and their families will be left without JOB and without SALARY that their work guarantees them. Citizens deserve the truth. Problems accumulated over the years are not solved by looking for the guilty, but by making fair, legal and sustainable decisions for the future of public service. In the coming days we will publish every detailed financial report that includes income, operational expenses, as well as salaries or other expenses!" - the reaction says.
Bulliqi said that the Regional Waste Company "Pastrimi", due to its inability to provide services in its area of responsibility, had previously requested to be relieved of service in the villages and this responsibility had been transferred to the private company "Natyra".
Bulliqi said that he has continuously helped the "Pastrimi" RWC with subsidies, in order to facilitate its normal operation and functioning, but without success.
Based on the decision of the Mayor, the Directorate of Public Services, Protection and Rescue is obliged to draft and implement an emergency operational plan for the organization and coordination of all emergency measures for the collection, transportation and disposal of waste, as well as the initiation of an accelerated procurement procedure for the provision of 3 rental trucks for waste transportation, including 3 drivers, who will operate within the framework of the "Cleaning" WRC.
The company "Natyra SHPK" has announced that it is continuing to clean up waste in all villages of the Municipality of Podujeva without interruption, emphasizing that it has inherited large amounts of waste from the previous operator.
According to a company announcement, with the decision of June 24, 2026, it took 22 villages of Podujeva into operation, and immediately began providing services, concluding contracts with citizens, and regular waste collection.
The company announces that on July 17, it also received the decision of the Municipality of Podujevo to collect waste in all villages of the municipality, while teams have been on the ground since July 18.
According to "Natyra SHPK", during the service takeover, a serious situation was observed in many villages, where large amounts of waste were left over from the previous operator.
"Despite this situation, all our teams are engaged every day, with all capacities and without interruption, in removing waste and normalizing the situation in every village of the Municipality of Podujeva," the announcement states.
The company emphasizes that due to the large amount of waste, it is not possible to clean the entire territory within a short period, but the cleaning process and the signing of contracts with citizens are continuing in parallel.
"Natyra SHPK" has also clarified that the state of emergency declared today by the Municipality of Podujeva refers to the city and not the area where it provides the service.