The European Commission closed the criminal procedure against Bulgaria for the old landfills, after the country reported to us at the end of last year that all of them were closed and recultivated, thus fulfilling our obligations under the Waste Landfill Directive.
This was announced by the Eco-Ministry and reminded that our country was threatened with huge fines if it did not solve the problem.
In July 2021, the European Commission warned Bulgaria that it would take it to the Court of Justice of the European Union because it had not yet rehabilitated 43 old landfills, despite having received European funds for the purpose and having already received a conviction in 2015 – then for 113 landfills.
The results of the closure and reclamation of the landfills are the minimization of environmental pollution, the prevention of potential pollution of water sources, the capture and removal of landfill gas safely and controllably from the body of the landfill, the improvement of the living conditions of the population, stated on Friday from Ministry of Environment and Water.
The purpose of landfill closure and reclamation is to strengthen the terrain on which waste was accumulated and to ensure maximum sustainability and isolation of the waste. Protection against leachate penetration into the water is provided, the release of odors and dust particles, as well as the scattering of plastics, paper, etc., are stopped. light fractions, the announcement adds.
