Garbage floating along Drina River threatens Bosnia’s tourism-based economy

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Tons of floating garbage along Bosnia’s Drina River are a threat to the local tourism-based economy. The garbage consists mostly of plastic bottles.

It is also a threat to people’s health when burnt.

Visitors to the otherwise picturesque historic town of Visegrad in eastern Bosnia will first witness a huge waste dump floating in the deep turquoise waters of the Drina river canyon.

The tons of floating garbage, mostly plastic bottles are a threat to the local tourism-based economy.

There are also fears about the impact on people’s health when it is eventually burnt.

The Drina winds its way through Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia.

Here the Visegrad hydro-power plant built a makeshift barrier out of old oil drums in the depths of the canyon some 20 years ago.

It is protecting its dam from the debris carried by the river.

There are about 5,000 cubic metres of different kinds of waste. Eko Center Visegrad’s Dejan Furtula said this, pointing to the trash barrier.

It comes from all sides and this scene repeats each year, unfortunately.

Rubbish is also carried from the Drina’s upstream tributaries.

Here rising water levels after heavy rains or snow wash garbage from nearby waste sites into the river.

Owners and employees of hotels and restaurants in Visegrad also complain that the waste dump is hurting tourism.

Tourists first spot the garbage dump in the Drina and make negative comments.

This influences both the tourism and the people who live here said Dijana Rajic, chief receptionist at the Andricev Konak hotel.

The Visegrad hydro-power plant could not immediately be reached for comment over a holiday period.

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