Compared with the proposal of the previous European Commission from June 2014 , the new package offers predominantly lesser and weaker and not binding measures for the control and reduction of waste. Removed are the goals for reduction of the wasting of food, for reduction of waste in seas, and missing is also a goal for effective utilization of resources. The lesser goals for recycling waste and packaging lead to missed opportunities, measured in number of jobs and in unsaved resources. The goal of recycling waste is especially critical for Bulgaria, on account of our status of one of the most backward countries in Europe in this regard.
According ot Evgenia Tasheva from Zero Waste team of For the Earth environmental organization:
“In fact, the low percentage of recycling in Bulgaria means that tens of thousands of citizens in our country suffer the negative impact of the unwanted presence of adjacent huge landfill sites for unlimited storage of mixed waste and from the continuing existence of old landfills, as well from burning of waste in cement plants.”
The risk for Bulgaria is that at the lack of decisive actions for better and consistent utilization of resources, still bigger quantities of waste will be directed to burning in thermal power plants and cement furnaces around the country, instead of being collected separately and recycled. At the same time, recycling facilities in our country import scraps from abroad , because Bulgarian system of waste collection is built not for quality separation of waste with the purpose of recycling, but for its mixing, mechanical sorting and driving to landfills or to burning facilities.
For the Earth Environmental Association calls on the Bulgarian Government and to European Parliament MPs to boost the measures for circular economy by setting concrete and binding and really ambitious terms and goals, so that remaining waste is reduced to a minimum, and all the rest be subject to repair, secondary usage, recycling or biological decomposition. According to latest research, circular economic model will generate 2 million new jobs in Europe and would lead to saving of 600 billion Euro and to reduction of the release of greenhouse gases from between 2% to 4% annually After the publication of the package by the European Commission, now is the turn of the European Parliament and the Member States to insist on higher goals for recycling and binding measures for reduction of resources use.
On December 15, at 13:30, For the Earth conducted a Debate Panel under the name “Closing the Loop” on circular economy and resources, at the Home of Europe in Sofia. Representatives from the European Commission in Bulgaria, from Ministries, Bulgarian MPs from European Parliament, MPs from Bulgaria National Assembly, state institutions, municipal associations, business, civil sector and the media were invited to participate.
Schedule|Registration
1. European Commission – Press Release. December 2, 2015. Closing the loop: The European commission adopted an ambitious Circular Economy Package, which includes revised legislative proposals on waste to stimulate Europe's transition towards a circular economy which will boost global competitiveness, foster sustainable economic growth and generate new jobs.
2. European Commission – Press Release, July 2, 2014. Environment: transition to circular economy with generation of new jobs and fostering sustainable growth through better recycling practices and goals.
3. 65% instead of 70% till 2030
4. 75% instead of 80% till 2030
5. Ministry of the Environment and Waters, 2014. National Management Plan for managing resources 2014-2020.p.30
6. Announcement from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, European Economic and Social Committee and the Regions Committee. Towards a circular economy: Zero Waste Programme for Europe COM/2014/0398 final/2/
More ambition is needed for circular economy in Bulgaria and in Europe
