site.btaSofia Deputy Mayor Submits Proposal for Increasing Capacity of Municipal Waste Treatment Plant

Sofia Deputy Mayor for Ecology Nadezhda Bobcheva on Monday submitted a report to the Sofia Municipal Council (SMC) on amending regulations for the organization and activities of the municipal Waste Treatment Plant, Sofia Municipality said.

The proposal, which will be considered by the SMC on November 13, envisages increasing the number of employees of the enterprise from 307 to 489, as well as the creation of sustainable jobs, including for disadvantaged people. The proposal also aims to expand the plant's structure and assets in order to meet the new requirements and workload in waste management in the capital. It is also planned to introduce a photovoltaic power plant, which will reduce energy costs and the carbon footprint, as well as a tire shredder, a compactor and up to 40 mobile centres for separate waste collection.

The changes aim to achieve higher energy and operational efficiency, reduce landfill costs and better manage processes in the waste treatment system, the Municipality emphasized, adding that the planned funds are BGN 4.79 million and will be provided in Sofia Municipality's budget for 2026. The increase in the capacity of the Waste Treatment Plant aims for Sofia to have its own resources and expertise, which guarantee efficiency, control and minimum dependence on external contractors, the Municipality said. Revenues of the Sofia Waste Treatment Plant from the sale of recyclable materials reached BGN 1.75 million in 2024, up by more than 400% from 2023.

"The waste crisis clearly showed that when the city has its own capacity, it can react quickly, effectively and without being blackmailed," Bobcheva emphasized. "The Municipal Administration has proved itself as the backbone of the municipal system, as it led the effort to control the situation in Lyulin and Krasno Selo," she said, adding that now is the time to ensure its resilience and increase its capacity.