Pristina faces garbage collection – IKSHPK warns of health consequences

The National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo has announced that proper management of urban waste is essential for maintaining a clean environment and protecting the health of citizens.

According to a post on the IKSHPK social network Facebook, uncontrolled waste disposal directly affects soil, water, and air pollution.

"This situation creates favorable conditions for the development of bacteria, parasites and insects, increasing the risk of the spread of infectious diseases such as dysentery, hepatitis A, cholera and respiratory tract infections. In environmental terms, waste contributes to the pollution of land, water and air, damaging ecosystems and biodiversity. Their uncontrolled burning releases smoke and harmful gases such as dioxins and furans, which can cause chronic respiratory diseases, allergies and, in certain cases, even carcinogenic diseases," the announcement states.

Also, according to the announcement, from a social aspect, the lack of proper waste management negatively affects the quality of life of citizens, creating concerns in the environment where they live.

"This situation was particularly evident last week in Pristina, where containers were overfilled and waste was scattered outside them, due to the failure of the responsible companies to clean them in a timely manner. This posed a serious risk to public health."

According to the National Institute of Public Health, stray dogs and cats pose an additional risk, as they scatter waste, increasing the possibility of spreading infectious diseases and creating noise in city neighborhoods.

"Open container lids and rainy weather conditions have favored the spread of unpleasant odors, negatively impacting air quality."

Therefore, NIPHK recommends that regular waste removal be carried out in every neighborhood of the city.

"Ensure the functionality and closing of the lids of waste containers; Regularly clean the area around the containers; Regulate the management of inert waste that is not removed by the "Pastrimi" company; Prohibit the dumping of construction and similar materials at urban waste collection points, by placing clear prohibitory signs at each collection point. In order to protect public health, IKSHPK requests that such situations not be repeated," the post states. /Telegraph/