The municipal waste management company Deponija, based in Podgorica, is set to export approximately 2,000 tonnes of processed waste tyres to Turkey. This initiative aims to establish a new industrial outlet for materials that have previously been considered primarily an environmental burden.
To date, Deponija has gathered around 3,000 tonnes of waste tyres from various municipalities throughout Montenegro. The company secured an €880,000 loan to acquire processing equipment that can handle between 5-10 tonnes per hour.
The current processing method primarily involves shredding the tyres into materials suitable for alternative fuel applications in industrial settings. The upcoming shipment is expected to transit through the Port of Bar, thereby enhancing the logistics and export capabilities within Montenegro’s growing circular economy sector.
As of now, the transaction has not been finalized as a confirmed export sale. Deponija aims to expand its operations by investing in additional equipment that would enable the production of higher-value rubber granulate.
This expansion would necessitate an investment exceeding €2 million, allowing the company to market its products for a broader range of applications instead of focusing primarily on lower-value fuel uses.
The significance of this project lies in Montenegro’s historical challenges with the collection and management of waste tyres, which pose environmental hazards and fire risks when improperly stored. Establishing an export market provides municipal waste operators with a financial incentive to systematically collect and process these materials.
The potential for domestic processing remains substantial. Should Deponija enhance its granulation capabilities, Montenegro could start producing secondary raw materials for applications such as construction and sports surfaces, among others.
For the moment, the forthcoming 2,000-tonne shipment serves as an initial assessment of whether waste management can evolve into a small yet commercially viable export sector.
