Vlora District consisting of two municipalities, Vlora and Selenica, is a major seaport and commercial and industrial centre in Albania. The region has become an important source of agricultural products for exports while serving as a major tourist destination for foreign and national tourists.
The existing municipal waste infrastructure does not properly cater to such developments. There are no regulated sanitary landfills or associated facilities essential for the management of solid waste, such as transfer stations or sorting and recycling facilities. Seven large dumpsites have been used for the disposal of municipal, industrial, construction and hazardous waste in the region. In addition, in the close vicinity of Vlora City, there is an abandoned hazardous industrial waste site. None of the dumpsites are fenced or controlled.
Solid waste management facilities and practices pose a serious threat to the development of the region, its environmental resources and public health. To address these issues, WBIF has provided a technical assistance grant for the preparation of a Feasibility Study for the construction of a sanitary regional landfill, which would ensure an economically viable and environmentally sustainable solution to the current problems.
