Owing to a faster urban and industrial growth, Banja Luka pays growing attention to the protection of environment through activities in air quality check, noise intensity measuring and waste management in the city.
Air Quality
Monitoring of air quality has been carried out by the Protection, Ecology and Informatics Institute Banja Luka since 1984. In the past several years, four pollutants have been measured (sulphur dioxide, soot, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide) on seven sites of urban part of the city (Paprikovac, Obilićevo, Vrbanja, Trapisti, Lazarevo, Centre and Borik). There is a continued quality check of air where by monitoring of concentration of basic polluting substances in the air (NO,NOx,NO2, SO2, CO, CO2, O total sediment and particulate matter, soot, meteorological parameters, etc.) sources of pollution are identified, including tendency of fall and rise of pollution, influence of certain sources of pollution and their interaction with environment. In addition to the mentioned parameters, since 2011 climate parameters have been monitored including temperature, air pressure, speed and direction of wind, which influence the movement of air masses. Based on the analysis of data obtained, long-term and short-term plans are made concerning the improvement of air quality.
Noise
In addition to monitoring air pollution in the territory of the city, growing attention is paid to noise and its influence on human health. Basic aim of the measuring is to set up the system of noise handling and management for the purpose of decreasing detrimental effect of too high a level of noise on people. In 2008 noise was measured in the entire territory of the city including both urban and rural areas. On the basis of those measurements six locations were identified where noise would be measured every month. The locations were also mapped and they are as follows: settlement Borik – junction of Gavre Vučković St. and Vojvode Radomira Putnika St.; settlement Obilićevo – Cara Lazara St. and Bulevar vojvode Stepe Stepanovića St.; west transit – junction of Ranka Šipke St. and Krajiških brigade St.; roundabout – junction of Krajiških brigada St, Karađorđeva St. and Bulevar cara Dušana St.; junction on the Boulevard –Kralja Petra prvog Karađorđevića St. and Bulevar cara Dušana St.; junction of Krajiških brigada St. and Trive Amelice St.
Given that noise is a detrimental factor endangering the environment it can be concluded that, currently, there are all prerequisites for this environmental factor to be examined in detail on the basis of which protective measures could be applied as efficiently as possible.
Waste Management
As the number of inhabitants grew and changes occurred in economic and social structure as well as in the structure of consumption, the problem of identifying the adequate solution concerning solid waste management also grew. A study “System of utility solid waste management in the City of Banja Luka” was drafted for the purpose of quality waste management, representing a good basis for all activities in the forthcoming period.
With maximum engagement of the City Administration and the support of the World Bank, in cooperation with another seven municipalities in the region of Banja Luka (Gradiška, Laktaši, Srbac, Prnjavor, Čelinac, Kotor Varoš and Kneževo), the Public Company ”DEP-OT” was established in 2003 as a joint company for solid waste management. The main task of the company is the sanitation of the current landfill in Ramići as part of the mentioned project while further activities include permanent management of solid waste for the purpose of the founders.
Collection, transportation and disposal of all types of city waste, as well as maintaining hygiene of public places in the territory of the City of Banja Luka falls under the responsibility of the Utility Company “Čistoća” a.d.. Waste management system allows efficient performance of all activities with regard to contemporary treatment of waste.
