Regional landfill opened in Pirot - Construction of wastewater treatment plant in the pipeline

Regional landfill in Pirot, whose construction was financed with EU funds, was ceremoniously opened Tuesday.

As Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert said on that occasion, this sends out a strong message that Belgrade and the EU still work together on the development of southeast Europe. He specified that the EU had invested EUR 3.8 million in the first phase of the landfill construction project, adding that its total value stood at EUR 11 million.

- There are 120 illegal landfills in the Pirot Region that need to be closed, and the waste must be sorted to prevent the pollution from affecting people's health - said Degert who opened the regional landfill.

He stressed that it was necessary to intensify efforts put into environmental protection and the education of citizens. Degert commended the joint work of all mayors of municipalities within the Pirot Region, considering that this regional landfill is going to be used by Pirot, Babusnica, Bela Palanka and Dimitrovgrad.

The opening ceremony was attended by Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Suzana Grubjesic and Minister of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection Zorana Mihajlovic.

Pirot Mayor Vladan Vasic pointed out that the regional landfill was a capital project that would have never been completed without the help of the EU, expressing his hope that the EU would keep supporting projects that were important for that part of Serbia.

- Pirot now needs to start the construction of extremely expensive wastewater treatment plants - said Vasic.