Bălți waste crisis deepens as unpaid landfill debts hit 2.5 million lei
A critical breakdown in waste management is unfolding in Bălți, Moldova’s second-largest city. The municipal enterprise responsible for infrastructure, DRCD, has seen its debt to the Țambula landfill soar past 2.5 million lei (approximately $142,000), threatening to halt sanitation services citywide.
"Every year-end, I find myself operating with empty coffers, unable to cover the costs of the services we provide," said Dumitru Balan, the administrator of the Țambula landfill. He noted that while a small payment of 400,000 lei was made yesterday, it barely scratches the surface. "This does not solve the underlying crisis; it leaves me unable to keep the gates open for municipal waste," Balan warned.
The prospect of a total landfill shutdown has sparked outrage among residents, who are already witnessing the physical signs of the crisis. In high-density areas like the BAM district, towering mounds of refuse are spilling onto the streets and lining major trolleybus routes.
Local residents expressed their frustration with the growing filth. "It’s chaos and dirt everywhere," one resident remarked, suggesting the debt might be a pretext to hike consumer tariffs. "There is no real management in this city; it's just a lack of leadership." Others noted that since officials are on the public payroll, maintaining order is a basic duty they are currently failing to meet.
According to the DRCD leadership, the financial hole was caused by a sharp spike in disposal fees. Director Cristina Sochirca explained that monthly costs jumped from 500,000 lei to nearly one million lei starting in September. Despite the mounting pressure, she expressed a "fantastic" hope that the mayor's office would suddenly find the necessary funds.
In a move to calm the public, Vice-Mayor Vitalie Balan announced that negotiations have reached a temporary consensus. For now, the Țambula landfill will remain open to municipal trucks. However, this marks the second time Bălți has stood on the brink of a waste catastrophe, following a nearly identical crisis in the summer of 2024.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
