Massive Waste Island Forms on Bosnia’s Drina River, Highlighting Regional Pollution Crisis

A colossal floating island of garbage has once again formed on the Drina River near the eastern Bosnian town of Visegrad, where workers are now battling to remove tons of waste swept downstream by seasonal rains.

The striking accumulation, which has become a recurring environmental disaster in the region, creates a carpet of debris so dense in some areas that it appears one could walk across the water’s surface. Workers equipped with cranes are methodically removing the waste, which collects behind a fence installed near the Visegrad hydroelectric plant.

Aerial photographs reveal the shocking scale of the problem, with plastic bottles, wooden planks, household appliances, and even car tires creating a vast patchwork of pollution stretching across significant portions of the waterway. Among the debris, observers have spotted household items including refrigerators, highlighting the diverse nature of the waste.

“This happens regularly following heavy rainfall in the region,” says environmental engineer Dejan Furtula, who heads the local environmental group Eko Centar Visegrad. “The illegal dumps along the tributaries wash into the main waterway, and everything eventually accumulates here.”

The problem stems from a combination of inadequate waste management infrastructure across Bosnia, Serbia, and Montenegro, where rural communities often lack proper collection services. Many people resort to dumping refuse in or near waterways, which then carries downstream during rainy periods.

According to the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, approximately 80% of marine litter in the Black Sea originates from the rivers feeding into it, with the Drina being a significant contributor. The river is part of the Danube watershed system, meaning pollution that begins here potentially affects multiple countries downstream.

Local authorities and environmental organizations have repeatedly called for coordinated action between countries sharing the Drina River basin. The river forms parts of the border between Bosnia and Serbia and receives water from Montenegro as well, making it a transnational issue that requires collaborative solutions.

“What we’re seeing is just the visible manifestation of a much deeper problem,” explains Dr. Mirza Saric, an environmental scientist from the University of Sarajevo. “The waste collection systems in rural areas throughout the Western Balkans are underdeveloped, and environmental enforcement is weak.”

The cleanup operations are costly and labor-intensive. Each time the floating waste island forms, crews must work for weeks to remove the debris. Local officials estimate the cost of each major cleanup operation exceeds €50,000, placing significant strain on municipal budgets.

Beyond the visual pollution, the accumulated waste poses serious ecological threats to the river ecosystem. Microplastics released as larger items break down can enter the food chain, while chemicals leaching from electronic waste and household appliances contaminate the water.

The recurring nature of the problem underscores the need for preventative measures rather than reactive cleanups. Environmental experts advocate for improved waste management infrastructure throughout the region, stricter enforcement against illegal dumping, and public education campaigns to change disposal behaviors.

International environmental organizations have offered technical assistance, with the European Union funding several projects aimed at improving waste management in Bosnia and neighboring countries as part of broader environmental initiatives connected to potential EU membership pathways.

For now, the workers in Visegrad continue their arduous task of clearing the river one crane load at a time, knowing that without systemic changes, they will likely face the same challenge after the next heavy rainfall.