The deadline for VAT, closing, auditing… The words of the year in an accounting firm do not change according to the political situation or technological advances. Cornelia Koleva’s firm is an exception to the rule with just one word – “List.”
“Yes, accounting generates a lot of paper. We have a lot of printouts. Sometimes we destroy old archives…” But at Altea 7, they have another reason to use this word: “They come from ‘sheet by sheet’!” Iliyan Iliev, coordinator of the paper sorting campaign, has parked his yellow pickup truck in a parking lot near the central boulevard Vladislav Varnenchik. He is in a hurry to take the collected paper for recycling.
In addition to office stationery, the five people who work here bring boxes, notebooks, packaging, etc. from home. Because, in addition to income and expenses, Cornelia Koleva also calculates the number of trees saved. “I am also an ecologist and I want to help Mother Nature,” is the simple answer given by the manager of the accounting firm.
Altea 7 has been participating in the campaign of the Public Center for Environment and Sustainable Development for nearly 13 years. In addition to paper, employees separately collect plastic, metal, and glass. And not only in the office, but also in their homes. They are convinced that “this is the way to pollute less.”
Cornelia has the example of her son, who lives in Italy. “Every home there has four types of bins for separate waste collection.” She is very impressed by the Italians’ experience in this area and is trying to apply it in Bulgaria. She does not live under the illusion that it will be easy. “Looking at the household waste scattered around the containers, it will be very difficult to achieve this in our country. We have no tradition of doing so. But everyone has to help a little,” the feisty lady muses aloud. She is convinced that for the Italian model to work here, “there must be sanctions, functioning services, and administrative bodies that enforce and collect them effectively.” Until then… “My appeal is for people to join ‘Leaf by Leaf’. Because the world around us is very ugly with scattered waste. Our city is ugly. Just think how many trees that give us shade and water are being cut down so that people can irresponsibly throw away their paper… It hurts my soul,” Cornelia’s voice becomes firm, yet you can feel the emotion that catches in her throat.
And at the most exciting moment, the most prosaic question pops into my head: Do you remember how you discovered “Leaf by Leaf”?
“Oh, of course!” Cornelia’s enthusiasm returns with full force. “A friend of mine, the manager of an accounting firm, who had worked with List po List before me, gave me their phone number. I called. I started. And so… it’s been three years now.”
