Prime Minister Pavel Filip demanded to take immediate measures to identify solutions to further collect the waste in Chisinau. The collection process stopped on June 2 after dozens of inhabitants of Bubuieci blocked the access of waste trucks coming from Chisinau to the local waste dump, IPN reports, quoting the Government’s press service.

In an operational meeting on June 4, deputy mayor Nistor Grozavu said the residents of Bubuieci in March were assured by the local authorities that a new waste storage place will be identified in 45 days, but the promise wasn’t delivered.

The Premier noted that each authority should assume responsibilities and should fulfill these. “The people protest because they are disappointed. Why did they make promises that cannot be delivered? The authorities should have submitted reasonable and viable proposals, with deadlines that would be met,” stated Pavel Filip, noting the waste problem should be solved without delay.

He ordered to create a working group that would thoroughly analyze the situation and would propose reasonable and achievable solutions as soon as possible. The group will include representatives of the Chisinau City Hall, Bubuieci mayor’s office, cleanup company “Autosalubritate” and central public authorities.

The working group will have discussions with inhabitants of Bubuieci and will try to agree a solution so that the problem is solved and Chisinau city could be further cleaned.

The Premier also ordered to review the national waste management strategy for 2013-2027 and the plan of action for implementing this. “We need a clear view on waste management in the Republic of Moldova and on the actions that were or are to be taken in the immediate future,” stated the Premier.

Earlier, the waste from Chisinau was taken to the waste dump in Tantareni, but after locals put up resistance it was decided to transport the waste to the Pucel Dump near Bubuieci. Negotiations are being held with the local authorities of Tantareni to resume the transportation of waste there and the municipality is ready to provide a financial benefit for the local budget. The municipal authorities need about €20 million to close the Purcel Dump and to modernize a waste sorting station so as to reduce the quantity of waste that will be taken to the dump in Tantareni. At the end of March, the Chisinau City Hall said it was ready to allocate 10 million lei a year for a plot where the waste collected in Chisinau could be stored.