ZKA: Pristina municipality failed in waste management, private operators cost it more

At the media conference where the Annual Adviser Plan 2025/26 was unveiled, Spanca said the National Auditing Office has conducted auditing performance for waste management in the capital, due to public interest and the situation created in Pristina.

Because of public interest and the status created in the Pristina municipality concerning waste management, the ZKA has conducted auditing of performance “Efficiency and effectiveness of the collection of household waste in the capital”. The report has been submitted today to the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo and to the audited parties, and the same will be published tomorrow on the official site of the KA. For your announcement, we are now extending the main results of this audit. The results of auditing have shown that the municipality has failed to prove effective in collecting waste in recent years. One of the most disturbing findings in the report is the failure of almost all institutional surveillance links. This process had failed to be realised at almost all levels from all sides”, she said.

Spanca said the KRC board “Cleaning” has not exercised effective supervision over the company and has not dealt with major waste problems in the city.

“One of the most disturbing findings in the report is the failure of almost all institutional surveillance links. This process had failed to be realised at almost all levels from all sides. Some of the factors that have contributed to this situation are, the PR Board of Directors “Cleaning”, which is responsible for strategic decisions and supervision of the Chief Executive Chief, has not exercised effective supervision over the KRM activity, because the current waste problem in the city had never been addressed at the Board's meetings. Instead, the Board was dealing with other issues as financial and administrative issues”, she said.

She added that the number of active waste collection trucks has steadily declined and that the company has failed to realise investment plans for their replacement.

“According to the operational plan, up to 31 active trucks are needed in the capital to cover the entire territory. However, the number of available trucks has steadily declined - from 28 to 2023 to 25 in 2024. In October 2025, out of 31 trucks as long as the company has them, 18 were under way. This has happened because of the KRC's failure to realise investment plans to replace trucks”, she said.

According to her, even new trucks purchased by the municipality have given up with delays and have not been put into operation immediately.

“Even though the municipality bought eight new trucks in 2024, they surrendered late. Six trucks have been delivered 20 days late from the date of signing the deal, while the other two trucks, while accepted simultaneously with others, have been used in the use of the KR “Cleaning” six months after buying”, she said.

Spanka said hundreds of containers purchased by the municipality have remained unusable, while many others have been damaged due to lack of staff knowledge.

“Communa had entered two contracts within 2024 for supply of containers worth approximately 747 thousand euros, dedicated to the KM Cleaning. A total of 2,883 containers -- 3,840 -- have been purchased -- have been accepted in the KRC by October 2025. At the moment there are close to 900 containers and baskets that have not yet been distributed at garbage dumps and continue to remain unused (at the Copostation Centre). In many collection points, damaged containers are found out of place. These containers do not leave or be replaced by new ones. The damage to these containers has often occurred because of negligence and lack of staff knowledge during the empty. The operational staff did not have enough knowledge of the use and emptying of containers, causing frequent damage to”, she said.

She stressed that the commitment of private waste collection operators has cost more to the Pristina municipality compared to the KR “Cleaning”.

The full cost of private operators has been devoted to the municipality. By 2024, KRM Cleanery was the only company responsible for waste collection in the capital. In April 2024 The municipality engaged private waste collection operators, along with the KM “Cleaning”. The private operator was more expensive by about 10 euros/ton compared to the Public Company, increasing the costs of the municipality to collect waste for 149 thousand euros, for April-December 2024. The price has resulted in 61.88 euros/ton for the KR “Cleaning”, while 71.15 euros/ton per OE private. Despite the contracting of private OEs, the municipality had failed to make visible improvements in the capital's garbage collection. For your information, the Pristina municipality has not returned answers regarding our conclusions and audit recommendations, while the KR “Cleaning” has agreed to our conclusions and recommendations”, she said.

The general audience announced that 145 audits have been scheduled during this audit season, and 24 reports have been published so far.

In this audit season, 145 audits are planned. To date, we have published 24 audit reports, out of them 22 reports of financial auditing and compatibility, of which, 14 of the Business Organizations and eight public companies, a performance audit and a audit of financial mirrors for specific purposes”, she said.

She said eight institutions have received qualified opinion due to material misappropriations and incomplete reporting.

For 14 financial audits and compatibility, we have given six un modified positive opinions for institutions, respectively: AAC, IAP, ARSHU, KPM, ASHAK and RTK. While 8 institutions have the modified (not good) opinion, respectively: MAPL, AMIK, Gjilan, Gracanica, Entrance, Istog, Lipjan and A SHNA. Ungood opinions on these institutions have been given because material misappropriations have been found that are related to incomplete and accurate reporting of assets, cashable accounts, whose expenses are significantly related to judicial decisions as a result of the” collective agreement, she said.

According to Spanca, public companies have also shown serious shortcomings in financial reporting.

Bad options for these companies have also been given because material misappropriations have been found that are related to: incomplete and accurate reporting of assets, cashable accounts, non-excussion of contingent obligations, and inadequate detection of information, underestimation or overestimation of voices assigned to financial mirrors, etc. The fact that 8 out of 10 audited companies have received negative opinions indicates that these companies have not yet managed to impose adequate financial reporting checks. By June 30th, the KEK and Trepca” auditing report is expected to be published, she said.

It also listed a number of violations and shortcomings found in public institutions and companies.

“Mangai in public procurement procedures, respectively, the OE contract reward without meeting the criteria in the tender file, the use of references to a brand-named brand without the use of equivalent expression. Mangagi in preparing the first move on capital projects. Do not apply public procurement procedures in case of employee engagement for special services. Changes of budgetary divisions for capital projects without approval of the Municipal Assembly. The connection of 6 contracts worth 50,000 euros to exploit advertising spaces by media portals without public procurement procedures. Delay in implementing capital projects and not implementing penalties for delays. Do not pay bills or duties to economic operators within the legal deadline. Lack of monitoring subsidies given in the area of agriculture. The selection of NGOs contrary to the criteria in Public Call. The engagement of audit services by the private audience, as opposed to the fact that the company was subject to ZKA auditing. Don't update employment contracts, based on board decisions, salary growth and the exact value of the driver. Maintaining regular positions with task guides beyond the legal deadline. Don't manage contracts through the electronic procurement platform. Do not draft and update regulations according to legal requirements for company business business”, she said.

Finally, Spanca announced that 80 cases were sent to the State Prosecutor during 2025.

“In accordance with Law No. 05L-055 for the General Auditor and Conform Agreement for Co-operation between the ZKA and State Prosecutor, the Department of Jury and Anti-fraud, in 2025, has submitted 80 cases to the State Prosecutor”, she said.