site.btaLegislative Initiatives, Stronger Control and Public Engagement Seen as Key to Waste Management, Experts Say

Enhanced control over waste management, legislative initiatives, public engagement and combating illegal dumpsites were the main focus of a roundtable discussion titled “Urban Waste Management: Crime, Corruption and Environmental Security”, held in Sofia.

Experts agreed that a combination of legislative reform, digital transparency, and systematic oversight is crucial for reducing illegal dumps and environmental crimes.

MP Ivan Belchev, member of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Water, emphasized that legislation should address gaps in separate waste collection and control. He proposed reducing the minimum population threshold for participation in the separate collection system from 5,000 to 1,000 residents to expand coverage. Belchev also called for technical monitoring tools such as video surveillance, sensors and photo traps, which could serve as evidence in cases of violations.

He highlighted the importance of a deposit-return system to encourage responsible disposal and the need for digital transparency throughout the collection and recycling process. Effective control, he said, depends on inter-institutional coordination and adequate sanctions to curb illegal dumping.

Blagoevgrad Mayor Metodi Baykushev presented practical steps his municipality has taken to improve waste management. He explained that in the past, a large share of waste had been illegally dumped, and the local waste budget was disproportionately high. Establishing an Ecology Department with six experts and a regional control unit helped monitor operators, promote recycling, and reduce landfill volumes.

An effective system, Baykushev said, rests on three pillars: infrastructure, public awareness and control. Beyond technical solutions, citizen and business participation, along with education and prevention, are vital for long-term success.

Sofia Deputy Mayor for Ecology Nadezhda Bobcheva outlined the challenges in the capital, where emergency waste collection affects some 250,000 residents in the “Lyulin” and “Krasno Selo” districts. She noted that waste-related crimes are lucrative and hard to detect, often involving the improper handling of medical and construction waste. According to her, strict oversight and penalties are yielding results, with more fines and enforcement actions promoting compliance.

Bobcheva added that the system for separate collection and recycling must be improved to meet citizens’ needs and prevent corruption. Proper waste management, she said, is not only crucial for the environment, but also for public safety and municipal efficiency.

The event also included an exchange of international experience in waste management, featuring experts from Europol’s European Centre for Combating Serious and Organised Crime, as well as representatives from France, the UK and Italy. They shared best practices for prevention, investigation and prosecution of waste-related crimes and discussed effective law enforcement approaches in urban contexts.