Good practice:

Waste management system in South Bulgaria

The efficient waste management system in the municipalities is a key factor for implementation of resource efficiency policy and circular economy strategies.
Main reason to create Ecoresource Ltd, 100% municipal owned, is to improve the waste management system of seven municipalities - Harmanli, Madjarovo, Lyubimets, Topolovgrad, Simeonovgrad, Svilengrad and Stambolovo and to reduce the amount of recyclable waste that is disposed on the landfill so that municipalities comply with environmental legislation. The company operates an installation for waste treatment at the regional landfill for non-hazardous waste, Harmanli. The company’s activities include waste treatment, sorting, baling, sale of separated recyclable waste for subsequent recycling and separation of RDF.
The acceptance of the waste takes place according to a pre-specified schedule on the basis of a written contract. Upon acceptance a visual inspection, measurement and electronic registration of the amount of waste is performed. The data is used to report information on waste for the municipal and national database. At the end of 2020, Ecoresource started the operation of two mobile centers to collect different type of waste from the households. It includes metal, glass, paper, plastic, obsolete electrical and electronic equipment, hazardous household waste - packaging of detergents, expired medicines, old thermometers, batteries, textile, etc. Stakeholders involved: municipalities, citizens, companies...

The total investment for the installation under the project is EURO 1,7 million. Sources of funding are the State Budget and а National Fund PUDOOS – Enterprise for management of activities for environmental protection. Ecoresource employees 36 people. The capacity of the facility is 25,000 t/year

Existing waste management facilities are efficiently maintained. The quantity and quality of the recycling materials is increasing annually: +25% separate waste collected compared to the previous period. The company is financially independent and operates with its own funds and covers all its expenses with the realized revenues. The established waste collection enterprise with possibility for further recycling of the different waste streams align circular economy and waste management objectives.

Main challenges are the problems with machines and equipment, which arise periodically due to their operation for 5 years and, accordingly, at high costs. Awareness rising among citizens and businesses is very important. Cooperation between all stakeholders.

The experience on developing appropriate municipal waste management policy is good achievement that should be shared with other municipalities. Good management is not matter of financial resources, than human resources and smart planning and implementation of appropriate measures for every different waste stream, different urban areas, and different neighborhoods. The problems with wastes are very common for all parties and having complex approach to these problems is a basis for good achievements and higher satisfaction of customers.