This documentary was produced by journalists Suzana Miceva and Aleksandar Metodijev in a cross-border environmental investigation which involved journalists from North Macedonia, Serbia, and Bulgaria.
The film examines one of the most pressing environmental questions in North Macedonia: where the waste burning at landfills comes from, who imports it, and why.
Through documented evidence, the journalists challenged the common narrative that illegal dumping is driven primarily by citizens. They included testimony from a local resident, as well as confirmation from the police that asphalt waste found at the site originated from municipal construction works linked to a new sewage system and was allegedly diverted to an illegal landfill that has caught fire multiple times this year (the authors of the film captured scenes of burning debris, flying bottles and small explosions, accompanied by heavy, acrid smoke).
The screening was followed by an open discussion with the authors, who spoke about the obstacles they faced, the methods used in their investigation and the risks involved in documenting environmental crime. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions and engage with an issue that affects public health and the environment alike.
The event drew attention to a problem many locals live with daily but rarely see scrutinised in detail.
