site.btaMedical Waste Reaches Sofia’s Waste Plant, Environmental and Health Inspectors Claim No Breach Found

Human tissues and blood were found in multiple waste bags at the Sofia Waste Treatment Plant (SWTP), Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev said at a Sofia Municipality briefing in early November 2024. “We have repeatedly informed the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water-Sofia (RIEW-Sofia) and the Regional Health Inspectorate-Sofia (RHI-Sofia) about our observations,” Terziev said. Despite these reports, the waste plant again found bags of hazardous waste on November 12, violating the Waste Management Act and Ordinance No. 1 of 2015 on healthcare waste management.

Municipal Actions and New Enforcement Measures

In response to the continued disposal of medical waste, Sofia Municipality announced plans to alert the State Agency for National Security and the Interior Ministry's Sofia Directorate. Mayor Terziev also ordered SWTP not to accept household waste mixed with hospital waste. Recent inspections conducted by the Sofia Inspectorate at medical facilities led to substantial fines: a BGN 4,000 personal fine for a clinic manager and BGN 50,000 fines issued to five legal entities.

Warnings and Communication with Hospitals

Deputy Mayor for Environment Nadezhda Bobcheva revealed that municipal inspections had found dangerous waste from medical facilities as early as September 2024. “We verbally warned the hospitals, but the process continued. We started sending regular letters to RHI-Sofia and RIEW-Sofia,” Bobcheva said, adding that guidelines were distributed to all hospitals within Sofia Municipality, covering regulations for safe waste disposal. “Under the hazardous waste ordinance, the Health Ministry is responsible for overseeing and monitoring the process,” she explained. Bobcheva noted that while non-compliant hospitals were notified, nearly all of Sofia’s hospitals have some form of violation, with hospital names visible on bags of hazardous waste.

Responses from Regulatory Authorities

BTA approached for comment RIEW-Sofia and RHI-Sofia. RIEW-Sofia confirmed that they received an alert on November 6, prompting inspections at various waste management facilities, including a medical waste site in the Krasno Selo neighborhood managed by Pirogov Hospital. According to RIEW-Sofia, inspections of medical facilities with waste management permits showed no evidence of mixing household and biological waste. Facilities under RIEW-Sofia’s jurisdiction hold contracts with licensed waste disposal companies, as required by the Waste Management Act.

Inspections by the Health Ministry

The Health Ministry reported no evidence of hazardous waste violations at inspected facilities. A letter from the RHI-Sofia Director in October listed several hospitals, including St. Ekaterina Hospital, National Cardiology Hospital, and St. Anna Hospital. Inspections by RHI-Sofia and the RHI-Sofia Region confirmed that these facilities adhered to standards, separating hazardous and non-hazardous waste and marking packaging with international symbols. RHI data indicated that the companies contracted for incineration and autoclaving of medical waste include Pavlov-BMT, Eco-Trade BG, Sofecostroy, EMEPA, Transmedico, SWTP, Hosvital, VMV-2, and T.O.M. Engineering.

Medical Waste Incineration and Compliance

The hazardous medical waste incinerator operated by EMEPA is authorized by RIEW-Sofia and operates continuously, with a capacity of 400 kg per hour. The Environment and Water Ministry said incineration is the primary method for managing hazardous waste, as it neutralizes infectious properties, reduces volume, and decreases toxicity. Data on the volume and type of waste processed is logged into the National Waste Information System, under the supervision of the Executive Environment Agency.

Waste Disposal Contracts and Pricing

EMEPA offers waste disposal services at rates of BGN 1.65 excluding VAT (BGN 1.98 with VAT) for public entities under the Public Procurement Act. For private entities, the rate is BGN 2.25 without VAT (BGN 2.70 with VAT). The Environment and Water Ministry reported that approximately 400 contracts for medical waste management have been established with various facilities across the country.