Waste disposal among major challenges of flood clean-up
Ljubljana, 10 August - Vast amounts of waste resulting from the devastating floods are one of the challenges of the ongoing relief and clean-up endeavours. In an effort to prevent pollution, waste is being collected at temporary deposit sites before being brought to collection centres. Veterinary services are helping with the disposal of animal carcasses.
Črna na Koroškem
Collecting of waste caused by floods.
Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA
Environment, Climate and Energy Minister Bojan Kumar on Thursday urged those affected by the floods to take the waste collected to designated sites set up temporarily. Utility companies then bring the waste to collection centres, where it is sorted. Kumer said sufficient collection centre capabilities are available.
Tanja Bolte, director-general of the Environment Directorate, stressed that only bulky waste and electrical and electronic equipment, meaning waste that does not have a significant impact on the environment, can be collected at these temporary sites.
Hazardous waste, such as waste oils, needs to be handled differently, with the established collection system rules applying. Special disposal sites are planned for sludge, but solutions are still being coordinated.
The authorities have also warned that burning wood contaminated by floodwater can release harmful substances into the air, further polluting the environment and endangering public health. The collection of this waste is provided by municipal waste collection services.
A specific challenge, whose extent authorities say is still being established, is posed by animal carcasses, which are being removed by the veterinary health services of the National Veterinary Institute and Koto, a company providing waste management of animal by-products.
The disposal needs to be ordered via a special application, access to certain areas could however prove problematic.
If certain locations cannot be reached within a few days by veterinary health service vehicles and the carcasses are badly decayed, burial or incineration on site may be possible with the permission of the official veterinarian. The burial sites will be approved by the competent regional office of the Veterinary Administration.
Meanwhile, Koto has also been setting up special collector containers for large amounts of foodstuffs gone bad because of the floods.