Ćemovsko polje – From wild landfill to natural landmark

The site at Ćemovsko Polje, near the Livestock Market, which was once one of the largest waste disposal areas in Podgorica, has been completely transformed. As part of the National Environmental Campaign “Čuvaj da te čuva”, as much as 650m³ of waste – equivalent to 130 tonnes – was removed from this location.

Where piles of construction and bulky waste once stood, there is now a landscaped public space with benches. To prevent the re-emergence of an illegal dumpsite, 15 surveillance cameras and warning signs have been installed, while the Municipal Police and other inspection services will carry out regular monitoring. The park furniture and surveillance cameras were donated by the company Voli, one of the partners of the campaign.

The clean-up action was supported by the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development, the Capital City of Podgorica, the “Let’s Green Montenegro” initiative, as well as the company Voli. More than a hundred volunteers of all generations joined the effort, turning one of the city’s “black spots” into a symbol of unity and care for the environment.

Copyright: Evropska kuća

Encouraged by this success, the campaign will extend its camera network to other critical points in the broader area, as well as to Vrela Ribnička, where the burning of waste tyres is still being reported. Ćemovsko Polje now demonstrates that long-standing problems can be solved through the joint efforts of institutions, civil society, companies and citizens – and it can serve as a model for addressing other problematic locations in Podgorica and across Montenegro.

Launched on World Environment Day, 5 June 2025, the campaign “Čuvaj da te čuva” brought together a broad coalition of partners from state institutions, local governments, academia, civil society and socially responsible companies. The campaign aims to strengthen environmental protection through concrete actions and to inspire citizens to make a personal contribution to a cleaner and healthier environment.

When the community shows its strength, a dumpsite becomes a landscaped public space. Čuvaj da te čuva!