In 2021, the amount of household waste generated decreases by 25% compared to 2010, show some of the findings in the National Report on the State and Protection of the Environment in 2021. The goal of recycling 51% of household waste, however, has no been reached, according to the data, presented at a press conference at the Ministry of Environment and Water by Madlena Stanimirova, head of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Directorate at the Executive Environment Agency (EEA). The information was published in July 2023 because it took time for the statistical data to be processed by the different institutions, she explained.
The trend of meeting the recycling targets for waste electrical and electronic equipment has been maintained. The increase in recycled materials utilized in the country's economy is up to 4.90%, the report shows.
Road traffic is the main source of noise pollution. Transport accounts for over 50% of total nitrogen oxides and 34% of carbon monoxide emissions in 2021, show the report's findings. Domestic heating continues to be a major source of fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in 2021. The data show that emissions of the main greenhouse gases have been on a downward trend for the period 1988-2021. This is thought to be due to "structural changes in the economy that have led to a reduction in energy in thermal power plants.
In the period 2000-2001 there was no stress on the aquatic ecosystem of Bulgaria. However, it is noted that a significant amount of water is withdrawn for cooling processes in the energy sector, accounting for 62.4% of total freshwater withdrawals in the period 2010-2021. Bulgaria has "relatively significant freshwater resources compared to other European countries, both in absolute volume and per capita". No epidemic outbreaks related to drinking water have been recorded in 2021. A deterioration in water quality from 'good' to 'fair' was recorded for the Officers' Beach in the coastal city of Varna.
No unregulated presence of genetically modified organisms was detected in 2021. As a positive trend, it is noted that the area of protected areas has increased between 2004 and 2021. There has also been an increase in the total area of forest areas, which at the end of 2021 stood at 4,270,269 ha. Forest fires are a problem. The wild goat population is increasing, but the brown bear population is decreasing, the report adds.
Flash floods and river floods (mainly in western and south-eastern Bulgaria) due to heavy rainfall are among the climatic events recorded in the January 2021 report. During the heat wave (July-August), temperatures above 42 C were measured in some areas, the analysis said. An increase in landslides was also recorded from 2011 to 2021.
The National Report on the State and Protection of the Environment in 2021 includes 16 sections covering key environmental areas such as air quality, climate change, water resources management, biodiversity, waste and others.
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Environment and Water Minister Julian Popov outlined two targets for progress when it comes to waste - the introduction of a deposit system and the polluter pays principle.
"We are not going to announce a tender, we have to agree with the economic operators or their associations how the deposit system will operate," the Minister said. We have consultations in the next few weeks, he added. Discussions are underway with municipalities on the garbage fee, Popov said, stressing that the aim is to reduce waste.
On improving air quality, the Minister advocated electrification of public transport, including taxis and courier vehicles. He said "if municipalities push a little harder for electrification" then a critical mass will be created to reverse the trend.
In November last year, the European Commission called on several countries, including Bulgaria, to properly implement EU rules on waste treatment.
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