Serbia's air quality threatened by escalating landfill fires

Serbia faces a severe air pollution crisis driven by an increasing number of landfill fires, with an average of six such incidents occurring daily in recent years. Data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs shows a rise from 2,100 fires in 2024 to 2,217 in 2025. The UN Environment Program (UNEP) confirmed the daily average, highlighting a systemic failure in waste management.

UNEP's findings indicate that most waste ends up in unauthorized landfills, of which there are officially 2,689, though unofficial estimates place the number above 3,500. Serbia's government had planned for 26 strategic landfills, but only 12 are currently operational. The law places waste management responsibility on local administrations, which frequently lack the necessary funding and infrastructure.

Waste management experts told N1 Serbia that the current system often involves designating landfill sites without proper preparation or environmental protection measures. Communal services dump waste indiscriminately, exacerbating the problem. The consequences are dire, with some assessments linking air pollution from these fires to 10,000 to 15,000 deaths annually in Serbia.