Bosnia's Drina River Clogged with Tons of Trash

Seasonal Garbage Accumulation Poses Environmental and Tourism Challenges in Visegrad

Twice a year, tons of garbage from unauthorized waste dumps in the Western Balkans are carried by the Drina River and its tributaries to the eastern Bosnian town of Visegrad.
The garbage, which includes plastic bottles, rusty barrels, used tires, household appliances, and other waste, accumulates behind a barrier installed by a local hydroelectric plant.
Each year, an estimated 10,000 cubic meters of waste is removed from the section of the Drina near Visegrad and taken to the city’s municipal landfill to be burned, posing a health hazard.
The regular reemergence of the floating waste near Visegrad discourages many visitors from coming to the town, which is known for its breathtaking scenery and is popular with river rafters.
Environmental activist Dejan Furtula suggests that all municipalities upstream from Visegrad should install trash barriers and establish their own waste collection teams to expedite garbage removal and prevent garbage from sinking to the bottom of the river.