Do we want a cleaner Jerma?

Waste Management System as a Key to Nature Conservation

The Citizens’ Association Jerma is implementing the project “Contribution to Establishing a Responsible Waste Management System in the Jerma Special Nature Reserve,” with the support of the EU Resource Center for Civil Society in Serbia and its partners. The goal of the project is to improve environmental conditions and establish sustainable waste management practices in line with European Union standards, through the active involvement of citizens and institutions.

The area of the Jerma Special Nature Reserve has been facing a long-standing problem of illegal dumpsites. Field research conducted across three municipalities—Pirot, Dimitrovgrad, and Babušnica—indicates a complex and systemic issue that has further escalated in recent years.

Why has the problem escalated?

The causes of the current situation are multiple and interconnected:

• Underdeveloped road infrastructure, preventing utility services from reaching certain villages

• Outdated and insufficient equipment of municipal utility companies

• Large distances between villages and their municipalities, as well as the regional landfill in Pirot

• Population decline, often used as an argument against cost-effective system organization

• Long distances between households and waste containers

• Irresponsible disposal of construction waste, furniture, and electronic waste

• Insufficient field supervision and weak inspection presence

  
  

Although responsibility is shared across society, a key question remains: Who is accountable for the consequences affecting both local residents and the biodiversity of this protected area?

What is prescribed, and what is (not) implemented?

A Government of the Republic of Serbia regulation from 2019 clearly defines obligations:

• Waste disposal and landfill formation are prohibited in all protection regimes

• Improvement of municipal infrastructure is предусмотрено

• Rehabilitation of all degraded sites is required

• Removal of illegal dumpsites is mandatory

• 
  

Additionally, the Draft Management Plan for the period 2025–2034 states:

• There is no unified waste management system

• Rural areas are largely excluded from organized waste collection

• Waste is often disposed of at temporary dumpsites

• There is a direct threat to human health and nature

  
  

Despite clear regulations, the situation on the ground shows a significant gap between norms and practice.

Reality on the ground

Data collected from utility services paints a concerning picture:

• Eight villages with around 250 residents have no containers or access to organized waste collection

• In the village of Zvonce, two containers serve four villages and about 150 people within a 10 km radius

• The municipal company in Dimitrovgrad operates with a single old truck, which is often out of service

• 
  

These conditions practically prevent proper waste management, further complicated by a complex organizational structure involving as many as eight different actors (three utility companies, three municipalities, a regional landfill, and the reserve manager)..

How does the system currently function?

In practice, each municipality organizes its own waste collection:

• Three trucks depart from three different centers

• They cover villages within the reserve

• Then travel to the regional landfill in Pirot

• After that, they return to their municipalities

For example, a single route can be as long as 110 km, further straining already limited resources.

Proposed solutions

To address the issue, a systemic and coordinated approach is necessary. Proposed models include:

• Establishing a unified waste collection service from Pirot to cover the entire reserve

• Creating recycling yards in accordance with applicable regulations

• Subsidizing waste transport costs from environmental protection budgets

Key prerequisites for success:

• Viewing the reserve as a single, unified entity

• Recognizing the importance of nature protection regardless of economic calculations

• Understanding the importance of preserving water resources and biodiversity

• Aligning with planning documents related to area protection

Call for joint action

In the coming period, the Citizens’ Association Jerma will work on:

• Engaging all relevant stakeholders

• Drafting a comprehensive waste management plan

• Conducting an awareness-raising campaign

We invite all interested citizens, institutions, and organizations to participate, share their suggestions, and attend upcoming meetings during April.

Nature conservation is not just an obligation, it is a shared responsibility.

“This material has been published with the financial support of the European Union. Its content is the sole responsibility of the Citizens’ Association Jerma and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.”

The project is implemented within the “EU Resource Center for Civil Society in Serbia,” led by the Belgrade Open School in partnership with civil society organizations: Novi Sad School of Journalism, ENECA, Užice Center for the Rights of the Child, Nova Planska Praksa, Sigurne Staze, Young Farmers of Serbia, and the international partner Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. The project is supported by the European Union and will be implemented from 2023 to 2026.