Ilda Hoxha
Kamza Municipality does not yet have a transfer station and waste differentiation plant, although 23 May this year marks 4 years since the signing of the 12-year concession agreement. The on-site verification made by Faktoje showed no such station in Valias, although 1/3 of the PPP contract period has already been completed. Kamza is part of Tirana District and its waste had to be treated at Sharra landfill, according to the provisions of concession on Tirana incinerator, being included in two concession agreements on waste management.
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About 5 years ago, Mayor of Kamza at that time Mr. Xhelal Mziu stated that the government had prevented the construction of a landfill for waste disposal in Kamza, although the Municipal Council had voted in 2016 for its construction.
“The Mayor Xhelal Mziu re-called on the government and internationals on finding solutions, setting up a landfill and issuing an environmental permit for urban waste disposal, as the current situation is really chaotic definitely requiring an emergency solution and the only solution for that is the approval of an environmental permit for urban waste disposal in Valias”, announced Kamza Municipality on 31 July 2017.
This statement was made just a month before concluding the concession agreement on Tirana landfill construction, while according to the agreement, Tirana landfill and incinerator would serve the whole Tirana region with Kamza Municipality being part of it. The tendering procedure for this agreement had started before the statement of 31 July 2017 made by Mr. Xhelal Mziu. Given that pursuant to the agreement on Tirana landfill, such landfill would serve the whole Tirana region and wastes of such region were given a monopoly to the awarded concessionaire by Tirana region local units, signing of the commitment format on contractual obligations to Tirana landfill was required.
Screenshot from the agreement on Tirana incinerator
Despite this agreement concluded in August 2017, Kamza Municipality signed a year later the concession agreement on “PPP concession of cleaning, collection, transportation and selection of urban waste services”.
In this concession agreement signed by Kamza Municipality, the concessionaire is no longer required to construct a landfill, however Article 3 therein required: “the construction of the transfer station and the installation of waste differentiation plant”.
Pursuant to Article 10 of this agreement, the deadline for the transfer station construction must be completed within 6 months from the entry into force of the agreement.
But what is currently happening with works’ progress on waste management station in Kamza Municipality when 4 years have already passed since the signing of this agreement? The agreement on PPP concession of cleaning, collection, transportation and selection of urban wastes for Kamza concluded on 23 May 2018 hereby specifies:
“Concession shall be granted for a period of 12 years from the effective date and shall end on the day of the 12th anniversary of the effective date” – was stated, among others, in the agreement.
Screenshot from the agreement on Tirana incinerator
Despite this agreement concluded in August 2017, Kamza Municipality signed a year later the concession agreement on “PPP concession of cleaning, collection, transportation and selection of urban waste services”.
In this concession agreement signed by Kamza Municipality, the concessionaire is no longer required to construct a landfill, however Article 3 therein required: “the construction of the transfer station and the installation of waste differentiation plant”.
Pursuant to Article 10 of this agreement, the deadline for the transfer station construction must be completed within 6 months from the entry into force of the agreement.
But what is currently happening with works’ progress on waste management station in Kamza Municipality when 4 years have already passed since the signing of this agreement? The agreement on PPP concession of cleaning, collection, transportation and selection of urban wastes for Kamza concluded on 23 May 2018 hereby specifies:
“Concession shall be granted for a period of 12 years from the effective date and shall end on the day of the 12th anniversary of the effective date” – was stated, among others, in the agreement.
Screenshot from Kamza waste concession agreement
Article 10 of the document herein, states that the agreement shall enter into force immediately upon signing, by defining the tasks of the concessionaire.
“The concessionaire shall hereby undertake to put into operation the transfer station for waste selection within 6 months from the date of entry into force of this agreement.
The Concessionaire shall undertake to immediately start from the next day at 00:01, performing the service of cleaning, collection, transport and waste disposal according to the items defined in Annex 2 of the agreement herein”, was explained, among others, in the document.
Screenshot from Kamza concession agreement
However, even though 4 years have already gone since the signing of the agreement in question on waste management of Kamza Municipality, the on-site verification shows that transfer station construction and waste differentiation plant have not started yet.
Another concession agreement involving the Municipality of Kamza is as follows: “On landfill and incinerator construction, rehabilitation of existing landfills in Tirana and production of electricity.” Hence, there are two concession agreements involving Kamza Municipality.
Screenshot from Tirana concession agreement
The agreement herein concluded 9 months before the PPP agreement on Kamza waste, clearly explains that the waste is deposited in Sharra landfill.
On-site verification
Faktoje was in Valias on 9 May where landfill and then the transfer station for urban waste of Kamza Municipality ware planned to be built. The on-site verification and conversations with area residents showed us that landfill was never built. The planned area for landfill construction was a large field close to some private dwellings.
“They have not done anything so far. “They have come 100 times and didn’t allow the residents”, says a middle-aged woman living in Valias for years.
The field in Valias where the landfill was planned to be built, 9 May 2022
Another resident talked about community protests organized several times with the aim to not allow its construction, emphasizing the fact that responsible persons did not have necessary permits to build a landfill in this area.
“We have organized 5 protests in this area here. This was planned to be done here, but it seems they have been withdrawn. They withdrew because they had no environmental permits, no waste disposal permits. Two years ago, Sadri Abazi came once again and he withdrew.
It’s close to the river bank; they say it is not allowed at the river. It’s also close to the airport. We are so shocked by such matter here; we have defended it; we have organized several protests! “I can no longer build this whole house; I cannot buy it anymore”, says another inhabitant.
We addressed a request for information to Kamza Municipality on 9 May regarding waste issues and its disposal site.
We received a response from this institution on 19 May 19 stating, among others, that Kamza Municipality generates 93 tons of wastes per day.
It further clarifies that “Kamza Municipality along with Cleaning and Greening Enterprise have also conceded waste disposal. “The concessionaire company performing waste disposal stands for this”.
Following the on-site verification, Faktoje sent a second detailed request to Kamza Municipality on 11 May.
Request for information sent to Kamza Municipality, 11 May 2022
We received a response to this request for information on 23 May, where, among others, it is acknowledged that no waste transfer station has been built and that penalties have been applied pursuant to the concessionaire agreement, without specifying the type of penalty. As Kamza Municipality’s response was incomplete, Faktoje complained to the Commissioner for the Right to Information.
In an article published in 2018, Monitor magazine reported that Kamza had granted waste cleaning and collection to a concession company amounting 10 million Euro for 12 years, however wastes of such municipality are currently being deposited according to the provisions of the concession agreement on Tirana incinerator concluded on 31 August 2017, i.e. 9 months before the signing of another PPP agreement having as subject the waste management of Kamza Municipality.
While 4 years have already passed since singing the agreement, the station construction planned to be completed within its first 6 months and which is part of the financial invoice that Kamza Municipality pays to the concessionaire, was verified by the on-site verification and turns out to not have been constructed at the location stated by the Former Mayor Mr. Mziu.
Kamza Municipality has yet to inform the cost of the station and plant construction items in the total bill of 10 million Euro.
