The success of citizens
In the village of Mrtvica, municipality of Lopare, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the construction of an incinerator for medical waste generated from humans and animals is planned, which, as the locals pointed out, will disrupt human health and ecology in this highly agricultural part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Ministry of Physical Planning, Civil Engineering and Ecology of the Republika Srpska rejected as unfounded the request of the company “ZANNI” d.o.o. Lukavac for the preparation of an impact study for a medical waste incinerator in the settlement of Mrtvica, municipality of Lopare, after the identified series of shortcomings that make the continuation of the procedure for this project unfounded.
The Ministry determined that the realization of the project at the mentioned location cannot fulfill the conditions of environmental protection and human health, and that the subject location is not acceptable, because it is located on agricultural land and in the immediate vicinity of residential buildings. The remarks of other ministries, institutions and organizations on the selected location of the plant were taken into account, because the plant is planned in the middle of arable land and orchards, which would allow pollutants to enter the food chain, and the location would become more polluted over time.
The negative attitude of the local community towards the incinerator was especially recognized, which made it clear that it was ready to physically prevent the incinerator from starting construction. At a peaceful protest rally held on October 17 last year in Mrtvica, residents of this and the entire Majevica area, as well as many residents of the border regions of Posavina and Semberija, loudly and clearly said NO to the intention of the company “ZANNI” from Lukavac to build a medical waste incinerator.
Then, they prepared a petition where 1,700 signatures were collected along with 2,000 online signatures, which were taken to the line ministries.
“The ministry made the only correct decision we expected – they rejected all requests from ZANNI. This decision restores hope in our institutions to work in the service of their citizens, but also the preservation of nature itself. We would like to say to all those who are “fighting” to preserve their environment not to leave anything to chance, to stand firm in defense of their country, to be united and determined, first as locals, and even when they receive support from the outside the results will be there”, said the locals of Mrtvice.
Marina Kuburić, from the Center for the Environment, from which comments were sent to the relevant ministry on the draft Impact Study for the medical waste incinerator and supported the fight of the locals from the very beginning, pointed out that in this organization they welcome the Ministry’s decision as the only correct one:
“We are especially glad that in this case, too, the local population became active and made it clear that they do not want a waste incinerator in their yard. We hope that this message will be remembered”, Marina pointed out.
In the comments submitted to the RS Government, the Center for the Environment from Banja Luka said that the nearest residential buildings are 1.5 km away.
“Most of the particles released from the incinerator chimneys settle within 10km of the source, although very fine particles can be transported over much greater distances. Thus, e.g., mercury can also be transported over much greater distances before it settles. The planned project represents a danger for the residents of Mrtvica, but also for the municipality of Lopare and neighboring municipalities, because modern incinerators also emit heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium… Medical research has confirmed a direct link between the occurrence of certain forms of cancer (lung, stomach, colon) and the spatial distance from the waste incinerator”, were some of the comments.
Let us remind you that in the village of Mrtvica, which belongs to the municipality of Lopare, and borders the Brčko District, the construction of an incinerator for medical and animal waste is planned, which was initiated by the company “ZANNI” d.o.o. Lukavac.
