Floating landfill raising fears of declining health and tourism in Bosnian town

Stagnant, floating garbage on the Drina river is harming the economy in the historic, eastern Bosnian town of Višegrad, despite not coming strictly from the region. Entrepreneurs and employees in Višegrad have complained the unsightly mess is hurting their businesses and tourism numbers overall.

Locals and tourists have also become increasingly concerned about the impacts the trash may have on people’s health.

Why does this accumulation happen? Well, Višegrad is a canyon, where garbage collects from upstream cities, and approximately 20 years ago, the local hydro-power plant created fencing to not only stop the trash from blocking its dam but also to allow them to clean it up.

Their solution, however, has not stopped people from littering in the lengthy river — meaning the pile continues to build up and remains the first sight visitors see upon entering Višegrad.

Speaking about the floating landfill, Dejan Furtula of the environmental group Eko Centar said Friday that there are about 5,000 cubic meters of different kinds of waste, including “dead animals” and “medical waste.”

“This is merely the result of our population's inadequate environmental awareness. People throw trash into the water or along the riverbanks, and when the water level rises from heavy rains and melting snow, the water sucks it in and brings it to Višegrad,” Furtula added.

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Видео Floating landfill raising fears of declining health and tourism in Bosnian town канала Global News