Sofia: The municipality reports significant advancements in waste management, including over 2,000 tons of textile and record amounts of hazardous and food waste collected. Initiatives aimed at education and community engagement are set to enhance sustainability and encourage responsible disposal practices among residents.
The Sofia municipality has reported notable advancements in its waste management strategy, showing significant growth in the collection and processing of various types of waste during 2024. More than 2,000 tons of textile waste were collected and handled separately over the year. This achievement is attributed to the ongoing systematic efforts of the administration led by Mayor Vasil Terziev, who aims to improve waste management in the capital.
In addition to textiles, the municipality revealed that it had also gathered a record amount of hazardous waste, nearly 19 tons, alongside over 8,000 tons of food waste, also collected separately in 2024. This multifaceted approach has led to enhanced performance at the city’s waste processing plant, which has recorded an unprecedented increase in the separation of recyclable materials from total waste, further bolstering Sofia’s sustainability initiatives.
Furthermore, the municipality reported a considerable financial uplift, with revenue from the sale of recyclable materials amounting to 1,750,000 BGN for 2024. This figure marks an increase of over 1 million BGN compared to the previous year. Historical data regarding textile waste collection underscores this positive trend, with figures showing a year-on-year increase from 1,095 tons in 2019 to the current 2,054 tons.
To facilitate the separate collection of textile waste at the source, Sofia has set up 243 specialised containers, serviced by three partner companies collaborating with the municipality. To promote awareness and education on the importance of textile waste separation, the Sofia municipality has partnered with TexCycle to launch a campaign targeting students across the city.
The initiative kicked off this week with activities centred around the theme “#BeTheSolution. Recycle, don’t throw away.” Students from grades five to seven at the 81st Secondary School “Victor Hugo” were introduced to the challenges associated with textile waste and the means to manage it efficiently. As part of the campaign, students are provided with informational materials and are invited to view the educational film “Resource or Waste? Textiles in a New Light.”
The practical component of the initiative includes a competitive element where schools from the districts of Mladost, Studentski, and Lozenets will gather unusable textile items for processing at TexCycle’s facilities. The school that collects the highest amount of these items will be rewarded with an incentive prize.
In terms of future plans, Sofia’s waste management taxes will soon be calculated based on the volume of waste that is disposed of, aiming to further encourage the community to engage in responsible waste disposal practices.
Source: Noah Wire Services
