At this year’s Democracy Conference a report by the environmental association “For the Earth” was presented, revealing alarming facts about waste incineration in Bulgaria.
According to Desislava Stoyanova from the organisation, the problem is not only incineration, but also a lack of transparency. Citizens do not have access to accurate data on the amount and type of waste being burned. According to the report, more than 266 500 tonnes of waste were incinerated in Bulgaria in 2022, much of it plastic and recyclable materials. The main incineration facilities are in industrial zones such as Devnya and Zlatna Panega.
Experts alarm that this process is holding back the development of more sustainable solutions such as recycling and composting. Despite Bulgaria’s commitments to the EU, which require 60% of waste to be recycled by 2030, this percentage is currently only 24.6%.
The report also highlights another important aspect – waste incineration is seen as a ‘green’ alternative, but in fact contributes to air and environmental pollution.
For more details on the topic, see the full report by For the Earth and watch the video: