Environmental research

Currently, no municipality in Bulgaria has developed a recovery facility of biodegradable wastes. These wastes are deposited as household waste for disposal in landfills under anaerobic conditions. The process of their decomposition occurs with emission of methane gas, which leads to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. With this project will be developed by experts of the University of Forestry an optimal technological scheme for a medium-sized municipality, for the collection and composting of biowaste and especially green waste from parks and gardens and cleaning of public places. The scheme will be implemented in the Municipality of Dobrich, selected as pilot municipality because of its declared commitment to contribute the maximum for the project, the good experience in the municipal waste management and the availability of specialists and appropriate infrastructure. The municipality will provide the necessary space and equipment to implement the pilot project. With the beginning of the implementation of the system for collection and composting of bio-waste from parks and gardens of the Municipality of Dobrich, will be assessed the quality of the compost in an accredited laboratory for analysis of soils and assess the possibilities for its realization. That will provide accurate assessment of not only the environmental effects of the utilization of green waste, but also the economic benefits of this. In parallel, will start activities for increasing the capacity of Bulgarian municipalities for the management of biowastes and opportunities for actions on climate change at local level. Will be developed educational material for bio-waste utilization and reduction of greenhouse gases, including European legislative framework, best practices in Europe / Germany, Austria / in family composting and centralized composting, the carbon footprint and methods for its calculation. Will be organized and conducted eight two-day trainings for 160 professionals from the municipal environmental authorities at BAMEE s Center for Environmental Education in Sliven. On the final two-day conference in Dobrich will be presented the results of the project and will be visited on-site composting facility. Will be issued an information brochure with the results and recommendations of the projects for municipalities in Bulgaria and leaflets to inform citizens about the principles of family composting and the benefits of it.

Bulgaria