Skopje, 18 January 2024 (MIA) - City of Skopje environmental inspectors and police officers have prevented an ecocide at a lot in Gjorche Petrov municipality, detecting a private illegal landfill where hazardous waste was deposited.

Skopje Mayor Danela Arsovska told a press conference on Thursday that 50-100 trucks deposited toxic waste on a daily basis, saying Gjorche Petrov Municipality was its top client.

"This is a major environmental disaster that took place in a lot partly private and state-owned, in the proximity of Lepenec river, 100 meters away from the new filtering station built by the municipality and funded by the European Union. On January 16, the ecocide perpetrators were caught on the spot, evidence has been collected, photos have been taken, and the case has been documented by police officers," said Mayor Arsovska.

She said the private illegal landfill is operated by a company owned by a person employed in Gjorche Petrov Municipality finance department and "a close associate of Mayor Aleksandar Stojkovski".

"It seems that Gjorche Petrov Municipality was the landfill's biggest user. In the records, which include construction companies and individuals that paid between Mden 1,000-1,200 (EUR 17-20) per truck, clearly show that the Municipality is the most frequent client. These records also show that between 50–100 trucks deposited toxic and carcinogenic waste on a daily basis over the past two years," said Arsovska.

She added that Gjorche Petrov Municipality has no valid agreement for depositing communal waste with the only registered landfill for the Skopje region, Drisla.

The waste includes roofing elements full of asbestos, tires, metal swarf and other materials that ended up in Lepenec or buried along the river.

Photo: Screenshot