Alarming Trend: Ministry of Environment and Water Responds to Recurring Fires in Regional Waste Landfills

The Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) has questioned the safety of multiple waste treatment facilities in the country. According to a new analysis for the period 2024–2026, an alarming trend of recurring fires in regional non-hazardous waste landfills is being observed.

Inspections conducted by the Regional Inspectorates of Environment and Water (RIEW) show that several incidents have been registered in 12 landfills, with fires occurring four times in three of them. The main causes of these events are technological violations during operation—specifically, the lack of timely covering and compaction of waste masses, which leads to their self-heating.

One of the critical factors identified by the ministry is the improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries in household containers. Upon mechanical damage or compression during transport, these batteries can trigger an instantaneous thermal reaction and fire.

In addition to internal processes within the landfills, the risk is increased by external factors such as dry vegetation, strong winds, and unmaintained terrain around the sites, which allow fire to spread rapidly.

In response to the findings, all 15 regional inspectorates have sent official letters to landfill operators demanding immediate preventive measures. Simultaneously, directives have been sent to municipal mayors, who are responsible for the safety of the facilities, instructing them to clean up unregulated dumps and hazardous terrains.