Improvised barrier of plastic bottles and waste blocks Vardar near Jegunovce
Municipality of Jegunovce deployed machinery after a wind-felled tree near Kopance trapped large quantities of floating garbage in the Vardar.
On the morning of August 31, 2026, residents of several villages in the Municipality of Jegunovce reported large quantities of waste drifting along the Vardar river.
Local observers say that strong winds near the village of Kopance felled a large tree into the riverbed, which acted as an improvised barrier where floating refuse accumulated.
Municipal crews remove the blockage
The Municipality of Jegunovce mobilized heavy machinery to clear the makeshift dam. Officials removed large amounts of plastic bottles and other municipal waste that had become trapped behind the tree.
Authorities described the operation as necessary to restore free flow in the river and to prevent further build-up of debris downstream. The removed material consisted mostly of plastic containers and general household refuse.
Residents and municipal staff say the incident highlights the broader problem of litter reaching the watercourse after strong winds and local dumping, and they called for stepped-up monitoring and river maintenance to avoid repeat events.
Photo: Opshtina Jegunovce)
