Residents of the Mamadli settlement in Azerbaijan’s Absheron region are raising alarm over a worsening environmental and public health crisis. A lack of basic waste management infrastructure has turned a nearby lake into an open landfill, with the surrounding air thick with unbearable stench.
Locals say the problem stems from the complete absence of garbage containers in the area. With no proper place to dispose of household waste, many are left with no choice but to throw their trash directly into the lake.
“We’ve submitted countless complaints to various authorities, but nothing changes. If the municipality simply installed waste bins, people wouldn’t be forced to dump their garbage in the water,” one resident told reporters.
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The local municipality, however, has pushed back, blaming both the residents and higher government bodies. Officials claim they have repeatedly notified the relevant agencies about the problem but have seen no concrete action.
“Citizens don’t pay for garbage collection services, and instead they throw their waste into open areas and into the lake,” said a municipal representative.
Sanitation issues extend beyond solid waste. Local authorities admit that many households have illegally connected their sewage pipes directly into the lake, worsening the environmental contamination.
The State Water Resources Agency confirmed the lack of a centralized sewage system in Mamadli. However, they noted that plans for a phased construction project are in place, with detailed documentation already prepared for infrastructure development in underserved areas.
For now, Mamadli’s residents are left to live with the consequences — foul air, a toxic water source, and official finger-pointing — as environmental degradation deepens with no clear timeline for relief.
