Kumanovo is trying to crack one of the most stubborn problems of any city - rubbish on the street - with semi-underground bins placed at several locations across town. The municipality presents it as part of a broader green strategy.

The idea is simple and logical: one such bin holds as much waste as six ordinary ones. Fifteen are being installed in total, at spots like the „Pero Nakov" school, the fire station, the former ZIK building and the market. Greater capacity means less frequent emptying, fewer trucks on the streets and - at least on paper - cleaner, tidier spaces.

The benefits aren't only aesthetic. Closed, covered waste doesn't become a target for animals or for those who rummage through the rubbish and scatter it across the street. Less movement of utility vehicles also means less congestion in the city. All of it sounds reasonable - and that's exactly why it's worth asking why so late.

A green strategy is a pretty phrase, but it's measured in the small things: whether the bins will be maintained, whether they'll be emptied on time, whether residents will use them as intended. Kumanovo is taking a step in the right direction. The question, as always, is whether the ribbon-cutting will be followed by discipline - or whether the new bins will look just like the old ones in a few months.