A similar affair to that of the incinerators is taking place at the Bushati Landfill, which has been engulfed in flames for days, causing an environmental disaster and poisoning the citizens of the area. This situation seems to have its origins in institutional mismanagement and the transformation of this strategic point into a hotbed of nepotism, where family members and patrons are employed who receive salaries without working a single day.
A complaint received by the VNA.al editorial office sheds light on the abusive scheme, arbitrary fee increases, fictitious employment of people without any qualifications, and total irresponsibility that culminates in the burning of waste.
Abuse of fees and lack of transparency
The change in the price for the disposal of waste at the Bushat Landfill was preceded by an immediate increase in cleaning fees in the municipalities of Lezhë, Shkodër, Malësi e Madhe and Kurbin. This decision was made without any public consultation, through an almost "ghost" request by the Chairman of the Assembly of Partners of the "Ndërkomunalja Bushat sh.a" company and the Supervisory Council.
While tariffs are increasing, for four days the area has been facing an environmental disaster that has covered not only the surrounding villages, but also the cities of Shkodra and Lezha with smoke. This situation could have been avoided if the managing institution had carried out its functional duty.
Board of "aestheticians" and history teachers
According to the complaint, the company "Ndërkomunalja Bushat sh.a", where the Municipality of Shkodra and Mayor Benet Beci have a key role, has appointed persons to the Supervisory Council who have no connection to the field of the environment or waste management.
Kristjan Shkreli, mayor of Vau Dejës Municipality and Assembly, has appointed Petrit Behari, a former officer and secretary of the Socialist Party in Vau Dejës, without any environmental expertise, as chairman of the Supervisory Council.
Simon Dodaj, chairman of the Bushat Socialist Party, of retirement age and with secondary education.
Sokol Shkreli, cousin of Kristjan Shkreli, is a history teacher by profession.
Edlira Sela, with the profession "Esthetician".
Arlinda Ndreca and Frano Ndoja, also without any professional profile that matches the task.
The culmination of this management staff is the appointment of administrator Gjergj Vasija, a person who was previously arrested by the police for cultivating narcotics.
Fictitious Structure: Salary for TikTok's "ghosts"
The denunciation reveals a list of names that only exist on the payroll, while they never appear in the landfill.
Gjergj Vasija (Administrator), almost never shows up at work.
Valbona Lluka (Coordinator), poet and member of an NGO, her presence at work is zero.
Altina Ndrekaj (Human Resources), sister-in-law of board member Edlira Sela, who reveals the open conflict of interest, known more for her activity on TikTok than for personnel management.
Arjola Bacaj (Scale Worker), works in the office with Altina, but not at the landfill scale.
Marjan Kolndrekaj (Firefighter), a truck driver by profession, did not show up even on the day the landfill caught fire.
Bendisa Druni (Secretary), works as a journalist in Shkodër and has never been seen in the landfill.
In total, about 13 employees are paid for work they do not do, while the actual weighing and disposal process is carried out by the external operators who bring the waste.
Missing investments and theft scheme
Although the projects envisaged drainage, technical compression of waste and the construction of a gas processing plant, nothing has been implemented. On the contrary, another conflict of interest results. Edona Martinaj, economist of "Ndërkumunalja Bushat sh.a", is simultaneously the administrator of the private company "WTO Albania", which should manage waste under the supervision of the company where she works.
Every month, the landfill collects about 4.4 million new lekë from local units, which pay their dues regularly. Where does this money go when investments are lacking and the landfill is left to its fate until it burns down?
The inexcusable silence of the authorities and the opposition
What makes the situation worse is the silence. The opposition has made do with a few statuses on social networks, while its MPs should have been on the ground demanding accountability. The media has treated the event superficially, while the Prosecutor's Office and the Police have not yet launched a serious investigation into this catastrophe.
As the people say, "the greatest miracle lasts three days," but the consequences of this mass poisoning will weigh on the health of the inhabitants of the North for many years to come.
