The new sanitary landfill in Maliq, a EUR 14-million worth investment, has become fully operational. The landfill provides for safe solid waste management for the regions of Korça and Pogradec, whereas the network of transfer stations will allow the region’s local government units to transport their solid waste to this sanitary landfill. The project, co-financed by the German government through the KfW, covers an area of 19.5 hectares and has an installed waste processing capacity of 1 cubic meters. An inauguration ceremony for the newly built sanitary landfill was attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama, the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Damian Gjiknuri, and the German Ambassador to Albania, Susanne Schütz.

According to the landfill staff, the Maliq and Korça municipalities have already started waste disposal at the landfill and the process of closing all existing dumpsites have begun. The technology in use provides not only for the waste processing, but also for the wastewater treatment.

“The specific aspect of this investment is the fact that it has been designed and constructed in such a way that it can also treat the wastewater, making a significant contribution both to the local inhabitants, as well as to tourism development in the area,” German Ambassador Schütz said in her remarks.

The Infrastructure and Energy Minister said that works on construction of a new sanitary landfill in the southern coastal city of Vlora are set to kick off soon, an imperative project in this highly frequented tourist destination.

“Today we have now a modern sanitary landfill for the waste treatment according to highest standards. Soon we will start construction of Vlora landfill too as a very important infrastructure for a tourist city like Vlora,” Gjiknuri said, expressing appreciation to the German government for its continued support for these projects.