The first documents indicating the beginnings of organized work of municipal services in Herceg Novi after World War II date back to the minutes of the GNOO plenary session on January 13, 1946.
Already on July 12, 1946, the then economic department officer of the city committee, Frano Lilo Trani, requested the purchase of a horse and a cart for waste collection in the city. This officer was later appointed as the director of municipal institutions and was a long-time executor of municipal services in Herceg Novi. With the increasing scope and importance of municipal services in the city, special administrative committees were established for various municipal works.
Between 1950 and 1961, the city’s municipal enterprise carried out numerous activities to develop municipal infrastructure. In 1961, a thorough reorganization of the Municipal Enterprise was undertaken to enable profitable business operations.
In 1963, personnel changes led to Csaba Magyar being appointed as the head of the enterprise, who then consolidated the working units into:
- Water supply and sewage
- City sanitation
- City greenery
- Municipal enterprise
- Maritime transport
During the period from 1976 to 1980, the company was restructured in accordance with the Law on Associated Labor. The catastrophic earthquake on the Montenegrin coast on April 15, 1979, caused significant disruptions in all aspects of life in Herceg Novi, including the municipal sector. On January 30, 1990, the Municipal Assembly of Herceg Novi established the Public Enterprise for Water Supply and Sewerage Herceg Novi. Then, on February 28, 1990, a decision was made to establish the Public Utility Company Herceg Novi.
The company was entrusted with the following activities:
- Cleaning public traffic areas
- Collection, transportation, and disposal of waste and garbage
- Cleaning and maintenance of beaches
- Maintenance and expansion of green areas
- Production and sale of decorative and other plants
- Cleaning of public traffic areas
- Maintenance of local and unclassified roads
- Regulation of surface water drainage and maintenance of open waterways
- Maintenance of the city cemetery and organization of funeral services
- Collection of recyclable materials
- Maintenance of municipal facilities
In 1995, a unified public utility company was established, incorporating three public enterprises:
- JP Vodovod i Kanalizacija (Water Supply and Sewerage)
- JP Komunalno Preduzeće (Municipal Company)
- JP za Komunalne i Stambene Poslove (Public Company for Utility and Housing Services)
This structure, with minor changes, functioned until 1999, when, through a transition process, it was divided into three separate public enterprises that continue to operate today:
- JP Vodovod i Kanalizacija
- JP Komunalno Preduzeće
- Javno Komunalno Stambeno Preduzeće (Public Utility and Housing Company)
Since 2001, the Public Company “Čistoća” Herceg Novi has experienced significant growth, earning the highest municipal recognition, the October Award, on October 28, 2002, in celebration of the municipality’s Liberation Day. During this period, there was a substantial improvement in technical and technological working conditions and overall organization, leading to Herceg Novi becoming one of the cleanest cities in Montenegro. Several projects were initiated to align waste management and environmental protection with modern trends. In mid-2006, “Čistoća” Herceg Novi became the first in Montenegro to complete a project for the separate waste disposal system for residents across the entire municipality. That same year, the company’s director, Borivoje Bonić, received the October Award of Herceg Novi for his contributions to public hygiene and service quality. In both 2007 and 2009, the company received high recognition from the Association of Municipalities of Montenegro for best practices in local governance regarding environmental protection. These awards were given for projects such as separate waste disposal and the establishment of a recycling center for residents, which was opened in 2009. Alongside these projects, in 2009, based on a decision by the Municipal Assembly, a new animal hygiene service was introduced as a core function of the company to comply with the Law on Animal Welfare. That same year, a shelter for stray animals was opened at the former military facility Dizdarića, above Herceg Novi. Since September 2009, organized collection and care for stray dogs has significantly contributed to resolving this social issue in the following years.
In 2010, the company applied for funding through the Government of Slovenia’s support program for environmental protection projects in Montenegro. By 2011, it had successfully secured a grant from the Slovenian Government and the Center for International Cooperation and Development in Ljubljana, along with a favorable loan from SID Bank Ljubljana. These funds were used for equipment for a future Recycling Center (RC). By March 2012, construction of the facility and installation of equipment at the Meljine location were completed, and the RC became operational. With the establishment of this center, based on EU standards, the most advanced waste management methods were introduced, enhancing waste separation processes. At the same time, planning and designing a new sanitary landfill, “Duboki Do,” began as one of the most significant municipal projects in Herceg Novi. In 2013, the project documentation was completed, and efforts were made to secure financial resources for the landfill’s construction. This project aims to establish a sustainable and integrated waste management system in the municipality. In April 2013, the Municipal Assembly of Herceg Novi decided to restructure the Public Company “Čistoća” into D.O.O. “Čistoća,” aligning its operations with legal requirements under the Law on Business Organizations and the Law on Improving the Business Environment in Montenegro.
Business Activities
- 3811 – Collection of non-hazardous waste
- 3812 – Collection of hazardous waste
- 3832 – Recycling of sorted waste
- 4520 – Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles
- 4677 – Wholesale trade of scrap and waste
- 8129 – Disinfection of facilities and pest control
- 9603 – Funeral and related activities
- 9609 – Pet care services