The National Waste Management Programme Of Bulgaria

Abstract

The current status of solid waste management in Bulgaria falls far short of ED norms and standards. Haphazard disposal of municipal waste, often mixed with industrial and hazardous wastes, to badly designed and unregulated landfills is the only option available at present, and such unacceptable and grossly unsustainable practices have been creating serious threats to both health and the environment. The origins of this sorry state of affairs go back to the country’s erstwhile Socialist era when matters concerned with environmental protection were treated with much disdain.

The National Waste Management Progranune of Bulgaria has been developed with the object of improving the country’s solid waste management methods and practices, and it is the subject-matter of discussion in this paper. Discussion begins with an analysis of the various solid waste management problems of the country. It then moves on to the salient aspects of the Programme including its objectives and how it envisages a better and sustainable solid waste management regime in the future. Finally the practicalities of implementing the Progranune are discussed along with the all too important financial aspects.

It is argued that, given the robustness of the Progranune and its carefully crafted configuration, it has the potential for making substantial improvements to Bulgaria’s solid waste management methods and practices in ways that could be sustained over time.