Background

In 1999 and 2000, the International Agency of the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG International) prepared a program called Strengthening Support for Local Government Reform in Bulgaria , with the support of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development, the Foundation for Local Government Reform, and the National Association of Bulgarian Municipalities. The main goal was to improve the capacity of local and regional authorities to use their rights in the sphere of municipal development policies and the process of regional development. The municipalities of Montana and Vratsa were selected as pilot projects within the program.

The pilot project in Montana Municipality was related to solid waste management a subject of immense importance to all Bulgarian municipalities, not only from environmental point of view (less pollution of environment, recycling of waste, etc.), but from financial as well (costs, investments, taxes, and others). In December 2000, new regulations became operational, in relation to the Law on Decreasing Negative Impacts of Waste on the Environment from 1997. New regulations are to be accepted by the Parliament in 2002.

Practice

The preparation and implementation of the project started in February and ended in October 2001. Final assessment is due one year after its end. The project had five inter-related goals: Prepare a general solid waste management plan, which could be used by all Bulgarian municipalities as a practical guide to the preparation and implementation of municipal plans for solid waste management (MPSWM) according to the requirements of the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Waters, existing legislation and the expectations for the next 5-10 years.

Test the general solid waste management plan in Montana Municipality and share the experience with all Bulgarian municipalities.
Develop the chapter Financial Control and Investments in detail, so that it serves as the basis for calculating the actual and full costs of solid waste management, and the relation to the waste taxes.
Stimulate the participation of all interested authorities at the local, regional and national levels, NGOs, citizens and civil groups, Institutions, consultants and companies, in this important process making the first difficult steps towards a more sustainable and cleaner environment in Bulgaria.
Make an attempt to create new jobs through the implementation of specialized systems for separate collection and treatment of waste.

The achievement of these goals was the topic of a series of meetings and discussions with participants at the municipal (Montana Municipality), regional (Montana District) and government (Ministry of Regional Development) levels, NGOs, citizens and civil groups, institutions, consultants and companies. That approach was chosen to involve a wide range of major project participants, which would guarantee public support and commitment for the achievement of final results.

The municipal plan for solid waste management includes general description of the area; legislative framework; present condition of the system for waste collection; methods and tools for intermediate waste treatment and deposition; system for separate collection of waste; activity management; reporting; research, prognosis and planning; involvement of NGOs, citizens and civil groups, institutions; financial analysis of activities; process and procedures for MPSWM preparation and approval; SWOT-analysis; future events, priorities, action plans; funding/investments and taxes. A MPSWM in Montana Municipality was elaborated, conforming to the specific local conditions.

The project had the following innovative aspects:
For the first time, municipal problems were analyzed directly and the report addressed local government.
Following the steps described in the guidebook, each municipality would be able to prepare its own waste management program.
With the implementation of the Action Plan, a social and environmental effect was sought, e.g. the introduction of a system for separate waste collection would result in the creation of new jobs.

Results

The stages and procedures for MPSWM preparation and implementation were developed, as well as the contents of the general and specific plans. Together with the experiences gained in the course of the project, these were published in a special Guidebook. It provides practical guidelines to all Bulgarian municipalities which would like to develop their own MPSWM. The electronic version of the Guidebook is available to all municipalities in the LOGIN Library at the FLGR Web site.

The application of the results and experience of the Montana project in all Bulgarian municipalities in the next few years will help harmonize the national policy for solid waste management with the EU policies. Thus gradually the global policy for a better environment will be realized, and Bulgaria will become a full participant in that process.