Ministry of Defence Assists in Waste Removal from Montepranzo

Over the next ten days, the Armed Forces of Montenegro will remove bulky waste, with the support of the Municipal Utility Company

Minister of Defence of Montenegro, Dragan Krapović, together with the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development, Damjan Ćulafić, and the Mayor of Tivat Municipality, Željko Komnenović, today visited the site of ongoing waste removal works at the premises of Montepanzo-Boka Produkt AD in Tivat, where members of the Armed Forces of Montenegro are providing support in the remediation of the area.

The activity is being carried out within the framework of the initiative “The Army at Your Doorstep”, at the request of the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development, in cooperation with the Municipality of Tivat.

Through this initiative, the Armed Forces of Montenegro, in line with their capacities and capabilities, provide support to local communities and participate in addressing issues of public interest.

Minister of Defence Dragan Krapović emphasized that this action represents an example of successful cooperation between state institutions and local government.

“Following the first action in Nikšić, we responded this time to the request of the Ministry of Ecology and the Municipality of Tivat to assist in removing municipal waste from this location. As a country constitutionally defined as an ecological state, we have an obligation to work together to contribute to environmental protection and improve the quality of life of our citizens.”

Krapović highlighted that he is particularly pleased that the Armed Forces of Montenegro, through their third mission, have the opportunity to further strengthen their connection with citizens, assist the local community and the people of Tivat, and support the Ministry of Ecology’s campaign ‘Protect It So It Protects You’.

“I am pleased that the joint efforts of the Armed Forces of Montenegro, the Ministry of Ecology and the Municipality of Tivat are helping to ensure that this area is restored and brought to an acceptable condition in a very short period of time,” Krapović stated.

Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development Damjan Ćulafić expressed special gratitude to Minister of Defence Dragan Krapović, Mayor of Tivat Željko Komnenović, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Montenegro, and the defence system as a whole for their outstanding contribution through this concrete action, which forms part of the continuous efforts to address Montenegro’s inherited waste management challenges.

Speaking about the significance of the “Army at Your Doorstep” initiative, Minister Ćulafić noted that the action represents a positive development for Montenegrin society and expressed particular satisfaction that the environmental sector is among its beneficiaries.

“I would like to say that this initiative is a major boost, first and foremost for Montenegrin society. It is both an honour and a great pleasure that the environmental sector is among the beneficiaries of this initiative and of the support that the Armed Forces of Montenegro—widely recognized and appreciated by our citizens—continue to provide,” the Minister said.

Mayor of Tivat Željko Komnenović thanked the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development, as well as the Ministry of Defence, for their support in removing bulky waste from the Montepranzo site.

“The Municipality of Tivat is currently implementing a tender worth EUR 250,000, while the municipal utility company Komunalno Tivat Ltd. has already invested more than EUR 100,000 in activities aimed at remediating the mixed waste landfill at this location,” Komnenović said.

He recalled that these activities are being carried out in accordance with measures agreed upon during the recent visit of the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, Johan Satler, and Minister Damjan Ćulafić.

“In this way, Montepranzo will be permanently closed for waste disposal. In cooperation with the Municipality of Kotor and the municipal utility company of Kotor, we have reactivated the agreement on the use of the transfer station at Lovanja, where waste from Tivat is now being transported,” Komnenović stated.

He also noted that a draft remediation study for the site had recently been presented and that the planning documentation currently under preparation will designate a location for a recycling yard in Tivat.

“This will create the necessary systemic conditions for waste to be managed in accordance with legal regulations and the highest environmental standards,” Komnenović concluded.

During the site visit, it was assessed that the implementation of these activities will take approximately ten days and will significantly contribute to improving environmental conditions in the Tivat area, while reaffirming the importance of interinstitutional cooperation in addressing issues of importance to the local community.