In addition to traditional energy sources, Montenegro could generate electricity through waste incineration, according to Predrag Tomović, a Berane native who found success in Norway by effectively managing waste. Tomović, part of the team at the Glor factory in Lillehammer, believes that two waste incinerators would be enough for the entire country. The city-owned company, Deponija, already has a plan in place, but needs state support to make it a reality.
Montenegro stands at a crossroads. The country must decide whether it will manage waste in a sustainable manner or continue to fall short of its obligations under Chapter 27. Tomović offers examples from Norway’s Lillehammer, suggesting that Montenegro already has a solution at hand, but must know what it wants.
“In central Norway, with a population of around 300,000, there is one incinerator that processes non-recyclable waste, the so-called ‘rest waste.’ Montenegro, with 600,000 people, would only need two incinerators for the entire country,” says Tomović.
He also emphasizes that Montenegro needs to eliminate open landfills, just as Norway did in 2009 when it legally banned them.
“This is a huge problem for Montenegro, and closing these small illegal landfills would be a large investment and a big job. It’s not easy; I know how much effort we put in to get to where we are now,” Tomović adds.
At the municipal company Deponija, they are already planning how to turn waste into energy.
“The amount of waste currently coming into the Podgorica landfill is enough to build a waste-to-energy plant that could supply electricity for 15,000 households,” says Aleksandar Božović, the executive director of Deponija.
However, Božović stresses that society must first learn to recycle, and the state must assist in this effort.
“Right now, 17 out of 24 public utilities are facing significant financial problems. The state and municipalities need to support these companies to make them financially viable and ensure the infrastructure for citizens, such as separate waste bins. Only when these bins are available can we start requiring citizens to separate their waste,” Božović explains.
Meanwhile, Božović warns that the sanitary landfill will be full in no more than seven years, and authorities must find a solution before then. An incinerator could be one such solution.
