Activists alleged that there was no basis for authorities to allow a newly established company to import thousands of tons of garbage from Italy to the western town of Drvar since the permissions say that the area has certain recycling facilities although there are none there.

The suspicious waste was imported during the night amid the pandemic, with permits from all levels of government. Both the cantonal and Federation (FBiH) authorities have permitted the import although there is no recycling plant in Canton 10, locals said.

The company that imported Italian garbage is “Krom Reciklaza” and is registered at the address of the municipality of Drvar.

Among those who call foul and say that the “garbage lobby” is involved is Zivana Sabljic, who alleges wrongdoing by FBiH Tourism Minister Edita Djapo and Canton Construction and Environment Minister Hikmet Hodzic.

The permit, signed by Hodzic, says that Krom Reciklaza is allowed to import nearly 8,000 tons of garbage a year and that there are recycling facilities for it in the area of Pasjak.

Local activists urge Minister Djapo to send Italy a note to return its garbage. Locals fear the garbage could prove detrimental to the environment in Drvar, and mayor Dusica Runic agrees, telling N1 that she believes the citizens are reacting “in a realistic way” to what is going on.

“I, as a citizen of Drvar, share these fears,” she said.

But according to Djapo, everything was done the way it was supposed to.

“The documentation which they forwarded us was completely clean. This is a company which received a permit from the Canton to manage the garbage. Everything was described in that permit, the facilities, machines and so on,” she said.