Turning Waste into Value: Montenegro Launches First Tyre-Shredding Facility
Deponija DOO Podgorica has officially put into operation Montenegro's first tyre-shredding facility — a concrete step towards solving one of the country's most persistent pollution problems in building a circular, cleaner future.
The event, hosted by Director of Deponija DOO Aleksandar Božović, brought together EU Ambassador to Montenegro Johann Sattler, State Secretary at the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, and Northern Region Development Zoran Dabetić, and Mayor of Podgorica Saša Mujović.
"What we are celebrating today is not just a new piece of equipment – it's a new mindset. A mindset that says: waste is not destiny, and pollution is not inevitable. With this machine, Montenegro is turning one of its oldest and dirtiest environmental problems into a solution that benefits the entire country," underlined Ambassador Sattler.
Copyright: Evropska kuća
The new industrial shredder can process around five tonnes of used tyres per hour, transforming a difficult waste stream into reusable material for export and recycling markets. The system is fully automated, operated by a single technician, and equipped with remote factory support via 4G for real-time monitoring and troubleshooting. Initially, Deponija will process its own tyre stock. In the near future, the facility will be able to serve municipalities and businesses across Montenegro, preventing discarded tyres from polluting rivers and landscapes.
Copyright: Evropska kuća
The launch of the tyre-shredding facility marks another milestone in the EU-supported national environmental campaign "Čuvaj da te čuva", which has achieved tangible results in just five months: Five major pollution sites cleaned or rehabilitated, a national platform launched for reporting eco-crime, a specialised police unit established to address environmental offences, and concrete steps taken to reduce single-use plastics.
Earlier this week, the campaign also supported the clean-up of the Gračanica River, showing how community action, institutional leadership and partnerships can restore nature—and public trust—fast. The new shredder represents more than technology—it reflects a national commitment to environmental responsibility and a future where waste becomes a resource.
Together, we can end illegal dumping, keep rivers clean, and turn waste into value. Protect it, so it protects you.
