The Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning has attributed the pervasive plastic and packaging waste in the Vardar River and other waterways to inadequate communal services, particularly in rural areas. This announcement follows video footage depicting thousands of plastic bottles contaminating the river.

The ministry emphasizes the prevalence of illegal landfills in public spaces within these regions and states that municipalities and their inspection services are primarily responsible for the remediation and control of these sites.

The Ministry and the State Environmental Inspectorate claim to be consistently communicating with ZELS (Association of Units of Local Self-Government), highlighting the need for regular waste management monitoring and a greater presence of municipal inspectors on the ground.

The State Inspectorate is currently drafting amendments to the Law on Inspection Supervision in the Environment to establish a unified inspection system for more effective control in this domain.

The Ministry is urging municipalities, public utility companies, and citizens to demonstrate shared responsibility and collaborate to maintain the cleanliness of rivers and waterways.