Sofia's garbage crisis is getting worse. Urgent measures are needed by the Metropolitan Municipality. This is what the vice-chairman of VMRO and municipal councilor in SOS Carlos Contrera warns about on his Facebook page. He also submitted a letter to the mayor Vasil Terziev with an insistence that the procedures be organized and a solution found within a week or two.
„I think that quickly - within one or two weeks, procedures for the utilization of the RDF fuel should be announced, giving the opportunity to as wide a range of people as possible to participate, so that we do not become hostage to one or the other cement plant, and the RDF fuel to accumulate. The same is true of green waste compost - it is necessary to be flexible, to ensure long-term contracts for its sale, because this gives security, as well as brings income,” adds the municipal councilor from VMRO.
Here is the full position:
I do not share the optimism of the Metropolitan Municipality that we are far from a crisis with waste, garbage cleaning and cleanliness in Sofia!
It is clear that there are serious problems with the utilization of RDF fuel as well as green waste compost. It turned out that instead of being sent for recovery, part of the RDF fuel is directly buried in the “Sadinata” landfill, and the contract for the sale of compost has been terminated and quantities are accumulating at the site of Khan Bogrov.
I think that quickly - within one or two weeks, procedures for the utilization of the RDF fuel should be announced, giving the opportunity to the widest possible range of people to participate, so that we do not become hostage to one or another cement plant , and the RDF fuel to accumulate. The same is true of green waste compost - flexibility is needed, securing long-term contracts for its sale, because it gives security as well as income.
That is why I am submitting a letter to the mayor Vasil Terziev with an insistence that the procedures be organized and a solution found within a week or two. The current situation is a ticking time bomb - there is no telling when it will go off. It is proper for the Metropolitan Municipality to diversify its contractors for both RDF fuel and green waste compost, to ensure that if one refuses or does not perform, the quantities can be directed to another. The opposite means making Stara planina 2, but from waste!
I raised these questions already at the SOS session on April 11, but an attempt was made to ignore the topic. Here is the text of my letter:
During the meetings of the standing committees and the session of the Metropolitan Municipal Council in the period April 8-11, a number of questions were raised and asked by municipal councilors in connection with the policy of the Metropolitan Municipality for waste recovery. As it became clear – volumes of RDF fuel, instead of being transferred/sold for utilization to external contractors, are buried at the "Sadinata" depot, which fills the capacity of the existing cell. In addition, it is extremely illogical that RDF fuel is the result of biological-mechanical treatment, i.e. processing of household waste, to be buried as waste. Citizens ask the question – what is the point then of the costly activity of producing RDF fuel.
During the committee meetings, I also raised the issue of the terminated contract for the sale of compost, which is produced from green waste at the “Khan Bogrov” site. I believe that the administration hastily terminated the contract concluded through the exchange. The existence of a court decision, by which texts from the attached municipal ordinance are canceled, has effect going forward, and is not retroactive. In this sense, the contract could be fulfilled in order not to create a problem with the storage of the compost, to which the interest of individuals and legal entities continues to be small. I am afraid that the termination of the contract may lead to further lawsuits against the Metropolitan Municipality.
I draw your attention to the fact that the storage of the RDF fuel and compost at the SPTO sites leads to the generation of additional costs and creates problems of a technological and technical nature for the normal functioning of the enterprise. The created situation may also lead to sanctions for the municipality by the RISW and the Ministry of Education and Culture.
To resolve the situation, I propose that immediate action be taken to announce procedures for the sale of RDF fuel and compost, including a combination of shorter and longer term contracts, as well as contracts for future volumes. This will allow the available quantities (in case of possible interest) to be utilized, as well as to ensure that the risk of accumulating RDF fuel and compost at the SPTO sites will be minimized in the future.
I fully understand that due to the lack of a working SOS from 13.11.2023 to February 2024, a managerial and political vacuum has been created, but the current situation should also be resolved with quick and adequate measures in order not to deepens.
I call on municipal councilors from all political parties to be actively involved in the process with the aim of maximum efficiency and transparency, because common and consensual decisions are needed for the city.