How just 2 trucks save thousands of leva per day on garbage collection… Nikola Rahnev in front of FACT

Two garbage trucks are already in Bulgaria and are intended for cleaning in Sofia. And this is becoming a fact against the backdrop of a crisis with waste collection in the metropolitan areas of "Lyulin" and "Krasno Selo". It was provoked by the fact that the old cleaning contract expired and a new one was not concluded, after it turned out that there was only one candidate who offered an inflated price. How more money was raised for the trucks and what will be done with them… Nikola Rahnev, founder of "Gorata.bg", speaks in front of FACT.

- Mr. Rahnev, you bought two garbage collection trucks from Austria to help with the garbage crisis in Sofia. How do they move, do they work, where are the machines used?
- The trucks have been on the ground for the second week now. They are helping in the two most severely affected areas that currently do not have their own cleaning company. These are “Lyulin“ and “Krasno Selo“.

- And what is their effect?
- It is difficult for me personally to measure it, because I do not have accurate information. We act in the following way – we have provided them absolutely free of charge to the capital's solid waste enterprise under a contract. They use them, as far as I know, in over 12-hour shifts with their drivers on routes chosen by them. But I can assume that perhaps over 50 tons of waste per day are collected with these two trucks. Because their payload capacity is 12.5 tons. These trucks can easily make much more than two trips per day — to be filled to the brim, to be deposited, rather thrown into the SPTO for processing, and returned for new courses. So the effect, if we measure it even through 50 tons, and they can be much more, and through the price that through you - the media, was announced at 420 leva per ton, which was not accepted by the Sofia Municipality, then the effect is 20 thousand leva per day saved for taxpayers.

- This is more than good, but how did the idea come about and how did you get in touch, and how did you buy them?
- When the garbage crisis began, many people started writing and asking: “What can we do, how can we help?“. Accordingly, I passed by some containers, I saw what the situation was. I had a dilemma for some time whether this was even a cause that we should get involved in.

- Why?
- In theory, Sofia Municipality has a large budget, on the one hand, and on the other hand, there are economic and political interests involved here. This is something a little specific and sideline from our activities. But since we have also helped during earthquakes, floods, and purchased fire trucks, I decided in the end that since there is such interest and desire for people to ask how we can help, maybe there really is a need to help.
I posted a poll on the page Gorata.BG, in which I asked: “Do you think we should support Sofia Municipality in the garbage crisis?“ I expected a more positive answer - more people “for“, some “against“. I was very surprised because 95% of the first 2000 responses were “… yes, we should support“. At that time I was already sure that we should act.
Since I know people from the municipality in connection with some environmental initiatives that we have done - planting trees, other activities, I contacted them and asked who is responsible, who can tell us. That's how I got to the director of the waste enterprise. I had a conversation with him and asked what was most needed, what could help. Three things were important: first, trucks; second, bins for waste collection; third, help from volunteers. I asked what was most important. The most important thing was a truck.

- And so you turned to them…
- We initially talked about one truck. The idea was to try to raise funds for one truck and several containers. I announced the campaign and to my great surprise, in less than 24 hours we raised 80 thousand leva. The company had already contacted companies from which they could buy a truck, brands and models were selected. It turned out that one truck costs 51,600 leva. I decided that after we had raised 80,000 leva, most likely in a few more days we would raise money for two trucks – and I directly announced that we were buying two trucks.

- So the municipal company directed you to Austria?
- Yes. I spoke with the representatives who sell them from Austria, and we agreed on how they could arrive as quickly as possible. To my great surprise and joy, they arrived really quickly. We started the campaign on Tuesday, and on the night of Friday into Saturday, the two trucks were already in Sofia. In addition, we bought 12 containers - large, construction, 5-6 thousand liters each, which are also in the field. We registered the trucks with the Traffic Police. There was one challenge, because several insurers refused to insure them. They said they were high-risk, in connection with the arsons that occurred in the industry. In the end, a foreign company agreed, we took out insurance, went through a technical inspection, serviced some things and they are already working.

- Two trucks for about 100 thousand leva - Do we realize how easily the Sofia Municipality, with its million-dollar budget, can buy trucks and not deal with other companies?
- As far as I know, that's exactly what the municipality plans to do. The Municipal Council voted 9 million leva, to be divided between two municipal companies. A lot of trucks can be bought for this amount. But there is something else. The Municipal Council must vote on the budget, then public procurement must be carried out and the delivery deadlines must pass. We are talking about 3-4 months. Our advantage - as a cause and citizens - is that we can react extremely quickly. The best help is timely. We have significantly increased capacity - from four large trucks for the two regions to six. Separately, there are also 7-10 smaller ones, redirected from other activities.


- You have already given examples of cities in Europe several times. What are we waiting for…
- Yes. In Vienna, Rome, Berlin they clean with their own municipal companies. Most likely, these countries have gone through some experience and have come to the conclusion that this is the most meaningful and profitable option. Of course, there are risks in Bulgaria, but with good organization, purchasing your own equipment and perhaps a mixed model – private companies plus municipal control, we can achieve the best for society.
People want a clean city and lower taxes. This is also the desire of the municipality, according to my conversations with them. We will observe how and what will happen in practice.

- You raised more money. What with it…
- The campaign was very widely supported. We raised a total of 350 thousand leva. The trucks cost about 110 thousand, the containers – about 25 thousand. I decided to use the remaining funds for long-term effects.
We are purchasing 210 thousand household bins, in sets of three (yellow, blue and green) - for a total of 70 thousand households. We will conduct a campaign to show that collecting separately is easy, meaningful and even modern. I believe that we will attract attention with your participation – media, with the involvement of celebrities.
In addition, we are buying 1000 composters of 630 liters, because organic waste can be turned into fertilizer through a natural process - odorless and without harm. This can help Sofia not only survive, but also thrive. We will have less waste, most likely lower garbage fees and a more beautiful environment.