SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR SURFACE WATER QUALITY PROTECTION

Maintaining a good surface water quality is a challenge for our environment. There are many factors that influence surface water quality and each of them needs to be thoroughly investigated. Amongst many, landfills are representing a major threat as a result of the increased waste generation, mainly due to urbanization and the continuous development. In Kosovo, there are still remains of old municipality damp sites, constructed regional sanitary landfills as well as illegal waste disposal sites. There are also industrial waste disposal sites, agricultural waste and demolition wastes, too. This study aimed at the evaluation of the waste generation and characteristics of waste in Kosovo based on the published information. The combination of methods are used to present the solid waste management for the surface water quality protection. Existing data on waste in Kosovo and the data collected from the literature review were the basis for this research. Followed by the generated waste projection, the impacts of the landfills on the surface water quality were analyzed. Based on the data presented, measures for the protection of surface waters and the use of best management techniques to minimize solid waste impacts are presented. Also, waste management options to optimize and reduce waste generation are given in the conclusion.