An audit report released by the Bulgarian National Audit Office (BNAO) covering the 2021–2024 period indicates significant deficiencies in the management of hazardous waste across Bulgaria. The report highlights that five regions—Blagoevgrad, Vidin, Gabrovo, Sliven, and Smolyan—currently lack proper disposal facilities for hazardous waste generated by residential, industrial, and healthcare sources. The audit, conducted on the Ministry of Environment and Water, noted that while the volume of hazardous waste increased from 13.7 tonnes in 2021 to nearly 16 tonnes in 2023, Bulgaria’s per capita generation rate in 2022 reached 2,246 kg, substantially exceeding the EU average of 266 kg.
Systemic issues were identified, including the absence of a parliamentary-approved national environmental strategy and limitations within the National Waste Management Plan regarding industrial sources. Furthermore, the report cited evidence of non-compliance, noting that 42% of local violations related to illegal dumping sites, and nearly 29% of large municipalities lacked designated collection points for household hazardous waste. The BNAO review also pointed to regulatory gaps, referencing nine past infringement procedures initiated by the European Commission related to waste management directives.
The auditors concluded that progress in managing hazardous waste remains limited. To address these findings, the BNAO issued seven recommendations to the Ministry, setting an implementation deadline of March 1, 2027.
Topics: #hazardous #waste #audit
An audit report from the Bulgarian National Audit Office (BNAO) covering 2021–2024 identified significant deficiencies in hazardous waste management across Bulgaria, noting that five specific regions—