site.btaEnvironmental Organization Calls for Swift Introduction of Nation-wide Deposit System for Separate Waste Collection

The For the Nature environmental organization calls for a swift introduction of a nation-wide deposit system for separate waste collection in a bid to reduce significantly the plastic bottles which dumped daily. A study by the organization has found that some 140 plastic bottles end up on the roadside of every kilometer of Bulgaria's roads.

They argue that over 50 countries worldwide have such deposit systems which collect 80-90% of the recyclable packaging and that practically ends the mindless dumping of bottles and cans.

In a deposit system, a customer pays a small deposit for the packaging at the time of purchase, which is later refunded when the customer returns the recyclable packaging to a machine. 

For the Nature ciriticize the Environment Ministry for failing to take the necessary steps to set in place a nation-wide deposit system for separate waste collection. 

Last summer, the Ministry discussed the matter with business representatives and the Bulgarian Industrial Association called for the adoption of a road map for setting in place a legal framework for managing packaging and packaging waste, including the introduction of a deposit system.

Earlier in 2023, the Lidl and Kaufland supermarket chains started pilot projects for buying back used PET bottles and aluminum cans for recycling. For each bottle or can, customers are paid BGN 0.05