site.btaSofia Mayor Terziev Calls for Stronger State Support in Waste Management Efforts

Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev emphasized the necessity for a proactive and effective state apparatus to address the city's systemic waste management challenges. Speaking at the roundtable discussion titled "Urban Waste Management: Crime, Corruption, and Environmental Security" here on Wednesday, Terziev highlighted the city's struggle with waste-related crimes and inefficiencies.

He pointed out that in two of Sofia's largest zones, only one service provider remained, offering rates double the market price—unacceptable for households. Faced with pressure, sabotage, and attempts to undermine the city, the Municipality refused to sign such contracts. Instead, Sofia implemented an emergency two-week operation utilizing municipal resources, teams, volunteers, and support from neighboring municipalities.

Terziev described the crisis as a confrontation with models that distort competition, extort citizens, and undermine state authority. He warned that in current times, political actions reveal whether the State harbors mafia elements or if the mafia controls the State. He urged a choice between turning a blind eye to extortion or confronting it decisively.

The Mayor reaffirmed the Municipality's commitment to rejecting models that benefit a few at the expense of the majority. He pledged to work alongside institutions, citizens, honest businesses, and international partners to address the issue collectively. Terziev expressed gratitude to the Center for the Study of Democracy, the Minister of Justice, the National Police Directorate, members of parliament, and partners from Europol and the UK for their support and solidarity. He concluded by stating his belief that the roundtable marks the beginning of stronger and more effective inter-institutional cooperation for cleaner, safer, and fairer cities. 

The waste management situation in Sofia became critical in the Lyulin and Krasno Selo boroughs, where the municipality introduced an emergency waste-collection system after refusing to sign waste collection contracts with what town hall says are inflated prices, allegedly linked to figures from the underground. Under the emergency system, residents continue to use the grey bins. When full, small trucks empty them into larger grey containers, placed at three locations in Krasno Selo and eight in Lyulin, which are then transported to a plant in the village of Yana near Sofia. There have been unconfirmed reports of garbage from elsewhere being dumped in the affected boroughs in order to further exacerbate the situation. Commenting the waste management crisis, Terziev said on Facebook that "this is not a waste crisis. This is a clash between two worlds - the old one, where a few people with nicknames and influence dictate the rules, and the new one, where the people want transparency, order and justice".