I will not sign an unreasonably high price for waste disposal. We have calculated the estimated value, and it includes a profit margin, investments and a normal payback period. There are all indications that we will sign a contract with a Turkish waste disposal company, because it meets our estimated price - 166 leva per ton. The desire is for "Sofekostroy" to take over the areas of "Lyulin" and "Krasno Selo", as well as "Krasna Polyana" and clean there themselves - it can be built within a few months. This was said by Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev in the studio of "Hello, Bulgaria".
According to him, the waste treatment plant must be strengthened.
"We are focused on switching to normal waste collection in "Lyulin" and "Krasno Selo" within the next few weeks, so that we know that we have no problem there and that citizens can be calm. We are close to normalization, in the middle of next week we will have the necessary equipment and organization to switch to normal waste collection. This way we will be able to work on a medium-term and long-term solution for other regions as well. There is always a danger of a new crisis, but we are working to avoid it - by concluding the necessary contracts," commented Terziev.
According to the mayor, 5-6 trucks are currently on the ground in the two problem areas collecting waste. "In 2 days there will be 10. Between 12 and 14 trucks are needed to ensure normal waste collection. Currently, about 60-70% of the waste is being removed. For now, we do not need help from the state, because the machines are increasing day by day. We are missing one truck, we will have 12, and we also have additional equipment and large containers", announced Terziev.
The mayor explained that the Sofia Municipality controls what equipment should be used for cleaning and how often, as well as what the fines are for bad faith. "Our job is to have a competitive procedure with more than 1 candidate and to protect the interests of the municipality and the citizens. We have no control over who has come to an agreement with someone behind the scenes to cartelize with each other or who will set fire to the truck. The CPC can check the documentation if it is interested, the data is public", announced Terziev. And he specified that the lack of a maximum price makes it easier to appeal the public procurement.
"I know that the license of the Turkish company for waste disposal was taken under the pretext of omissions by the Ministry of Environment and Water. My only problem is that someone wants to charge 420 leva per ton of waste, which is unfounded and does not lead to better service. I do not know who the manager of this company is, but it is associated with certain names that are circulating in the media. Non-market principles were used to eliminate any competition," the mayor pointed out.
We recall that on October 4, the capital's districts “Lyulin” and “Krasno Selo” were left without a company for collecting and transporting their waste. A crisis situation was also declared for the period from October 5 to 19 for both regions.
This happened after Terziev stated that the Sofia Municipality would not sign a new contract at the price of 420 leva per ton of waste offered by the companies. Thus, the decision is for the Municipality to take over the task temporarily, with its own resources, albeit with a lower frequency. The mayor assured that the Municipality is prepared with alternative options. According to him, in the next two weeks, the Sofia Municipality will carry out waste collection with its own forces until a permanent solution to the problem is found. In the meantime, many volunteers and prisoners have joined the waste collection.
On October 9, the Sofia Municipal Council approved financing of the municipal company “Sofekostroy” with 9 million leva. The goal - the purchase of equipment with which to service “Krasno Selo and Lyulin”.