site.btaJustice Ministry Proposes Making Large-Scale Illegal Waste Dumping a Criminal Offence

The Ministry of Justice has proposed amendments to the Penal Code to make the dumping of large quantities of household, industrial or construction waste in unauthorized locations a criminal offence, punishable by imprisonment and a fine, the Ministry’s press service said on Monday.

Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev publicly announced the commitment to criminalize large-scale illegal waste disposal earlier in October, and Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov reaffirmed it on Sunday during a meeting with the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB), where the proposal received strong support, the Ministry said.

Currently, criminal liability applies only to entities with formal waste management obligations. Dumping waste in unauthorized areas is treated solely as an administrative offence, punishable by fines ranging from BGN 300 to 1,000 for individuals and from BGN 1,400 to 4,000 for legal entities.

Under the proposed amendments, disposing of large quantities of waste outside designated depots, in a manner that endangers human life and health or causes significant environmental damage, would be punishable by one to five years in prison and a fine ranging from BGN 5,000 to 30,000.

According to the Ministry, the measure transposes a European directive but, more importantly, addresses a serious and pressing problem concerning public health and environmental protection.

On Sunday, PM Zhelyazkov opened the Annual Meeting of the National Association of Municipalities in the seaside resort of Albena. In his remarks, he recalled that the amendments to the Penal Code will criminalize the dumping of household, industrial and construction waste and said that only 71 municipalities have so far declared readiness to introduce the “polluter pays” system.