Svilengrad aims to be the first zero-waste city in Bulgaria

The municipality has started its ambitious transition to cleaner urban environment

Svilengrad aims to become a zero-waste city by 2025. The announcement follows after the Bulgarian city’s administration, led by mayor Arch. Anastas Karchev, signed yesterday an official application for the Zero Waste Cities Certification. The act makes it the first city in the Balkan country to set off on such an environmental path.

Mission Zero Academy (MiZA) and Zero Waste Europe, together with the local zero waste organisation Za Zemiata, will guide and support Svilengrad in its zero waste journey, helping to achieve its goals by 2025.

What are Svilengrad’s specific goals in that regard?

In addition to the general waste management commitments intrinsic to the Certification process, Svilengrad will put a specific focus on textile and construction waste and will introduce separate collection systems in the surrounding villages.

After the establishment of a Zero Waste Advisory Board a few years back, now the municipality will aim to: 

• Achieve 90% diversion of municipal solid waste (MSW);
• Reach a target of 99 kg per resident/year in 2025 for the annual amount of residual waste; 
• Reduce the volume of MSW sent to incineration, building awareness around sustainable alternative solutions; 
• Increase awareness of zero waste and circular economy principles within its community, using a wide range of communication methods and channels.

“Svilengrad has a long-term vision within its zero waste strategy, which includes various innovative solutions that we will achieve thanks to the Zero Waste Cities Certification. We are committed to working hard with our residents for a cleaner environment,” stated Arch. Anastas Karchev, the Mayor of Svilengrad.

The city already has some solid environmental credentials within the context of Bulgaria. In 2017, it was recognised as the Greenest Municipality in the Ecopark Bulgaria Competition. Svilengrad’s zero waste commitment marks another important momentum for the country and the whole of Europe, a clear sign that it advocates for a more sustainable and circular future.