The Hidden Scars on Bosnia’s Landscape
Thoughts and Observations from a Recent Walk
I’m David, and Coffee and Rakija is a Digital Magazine about my life and experiences in a rural village in North-West Bosnia and Herzegovina. I’ll be giving you a unique look, through the eyes of an immigrant (me), of this much misunderstood country. My goal is to replace the many negative perceptions of both the country and its people, that you’ll be served by international media outlets. Thank you so much for dropping by.
There’s something about winter mornings in Bosnia that I’ve come to appreciate over these past 20 plus years. The crisp air, the sound of the river nearby, the stillness of the countryside before the day really begins. Even when the sky is grey and heavy, there’s a certain beauty in it.
But today, as I follow a familiar path near my village, my attention isn’t on the scenery. I know what’s coming.
As the asphalt single track road ends and a muddy path starts, I get near the river bank and there it is, piles of garbage dumped on the river bank. Bags split open, plastic bottles and god knows what else, ( even an old television set) strewn everywhere. I’ve even seen refrigerators and washing machines here before.
It’s frustrating. And it’s not new. But it’s mega frustrating.
A Problem in the Countryside
Bosnia and Herzegovina is an incredible country. Stunning landscapes, welcoming people, and a deep sense of history. But like anywhere, it has its issues. And one of them, at least in rural areas, is this. Illegal dumping.
It’s not everywhere though. The towns and cities here are impressively clean. When you walk through Banja Luka, you won’t see litter piling up in the streets. But for some reason, out in the countryside, it’s a different story.
As I’ve said, I’ve walked this route for years, and it’s always the same. People drive out here and dump their unwanted things, despite the fact that there’s a perfectly good garbage collection service. Every Wednesday, the municipal teams come through and pick up household waste. But instead of using that, some people just… leave it here.
Why Does This Happen?
I’ve talked to Tamara’s family about it. They say it’s just habit with people. It’s how things have always been done. They definitely condone it. To me it’s seems that people just don’t want to deal with it. It’s easier to dump it where no one’s looking.
There’s also the issue of enforcement. In cities, things are taken care of by the counsel with fines etc. But out here? Who’s checking? Who’s making sure it doesn’t happen?
It’s easy to be frustrated by it. But the truth is, this isn’t just a Bosnia problem. I’ve seen it elsewhere. Fly-tipping in the UK is getting out of hand. It’s a challenge that exists in many places, especially where services don’t reach as easily.
A Small Change in Mindset
There’s no quick fix, but I do think it starts with a shift in attitude. Cities in Bosnia changed dramatically in the early 2000’s. When I first arrived here in the late ‘90s, Banja Luka wasn’t as spotless as it is today. People had other priorities, rebuilding, recovering from the war. I understood that back then. But in just a few years, the city cleaned up, and it’s stayed that way.
If that kind of shift can happen in an urban area, surely it can happen in the countryside too?
I should become a permanent resident in the country soon (I’ve been temporary so far), and once I am, I’ll start to slowly try and talk to people in the local municipality.
What About Where You Are?
I know this kind of issue isn’t unique to Bosnia. Do you see this where you live? What’s being done about it?
I’d love to hear from you. Not just about the problem, but about the solutions. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from living here, it’s that change, no matter how slow, is possible.
And maybe, who knows, one day, I’ll walk this route and find nothing but the sound of the river and the trees. No broken televisions, no piles of plastic. Just nature, as it should be.
Until then though, I’ll keep walking.
Thank You for Being Here
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Videmo se opet (I’ll see you again soon).
Here in Germany, in the small towns, you can arrange to leave household waste and unwanted items outside. People can sift through your items at the roadside to pick up anything they find useful, van collectors will come and take metal items etc for sale/recycle, and anything that is left after 24/48hrs gets picked up by the local authorities.
Our biggest issue here in Carinthia seems to be beer can tossing. If you cross the border into Austria, it's a totally different story. But we do have a neighborhood cleanup twice a year. It always boggles my mind that in such pristine nature, someone can have the audacity to throw their trash out the window like that.