Albania's Waste Crisis: Toxic Smoke and Deep Governance Problems

An investigation published by the media Balkaneu.com has shed light on one of the most serious environmental crises that Albania is experiencing: urban waste management.

From Elbasan to Vlora, citizens are facing pollution and toxic smoke, while incinerators promised with millions of euros remain ghosts and mired in corruption allegations.

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Albania is facing a severe waste management crisis, accompanied by thick clouds of toxic smoke rising from burning landfills and widespread allegations of corruption.

Promised incinerators, funded with millions of euros, remain largely unfinished or out of service, exposing deep governance problems and seriously endangering public health across the country.

Unfinished incinerators and polluted air

For days, thick toxic smoke has blanketed Elbasan, one of Albania's most industrialized cities. A similar situation has occurred in Vlora, a major tourist destination. These fires are not isolated incidents, but symptoms of a failed waste management system, where garbage is illegally piled up and burned.

Government officials attribute these fires to heat waves and overloaded landfills. But many citizens, environmental experts, and prosecutors see them as a direct result of systemic corruption and political mismanagement.

Ghost infrastructure: Millions of euros missing

At the heart of this crisis lies the disappearance of public funds intended for the construction of modern incinerators:

€140 million for the Elbasan incinerator, inaugurated in 2017 by Prime Minister Edi Rama, but which never operated.
€150 million for the Tirana incinerator, which remains unfinished despite large disbursements.
Investigations reveal that contracts were awarded through shell companies, with uncompetitive tenders and funds transferred to offshore accounts. Several mid-level officials and a former environment minister have been arrested, but critics say the “brains” of the affair remain intact.

Disaster for public health and the environment

The consequences are serious:

The air in Elbasan and Vlora is thick with smoke.
Residents report an increase in respiratory problems, especially among children.
Local authorities are trying to cover burning waste with soil, a temporary and ineffective solution.

A governance crisis, not just an environmental one

This is not just an environmental crisis, but a reflection of the lack of transparency, accountability, and good governance. While the government continues to defend projects as “visionary,” citizens face the reality of a system that is not working and that is endangering their health and future.