The air that people breathe in Sliven is under threat of carcinogen pollutants

The Coalition “Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria” insists that an EIA report be prepared, since the risks from burning waste for human health and the environment are huge.

According to the announcement, the addition of household waste in the burning would reduce the pollutants of the air in Sliven. This allegation is misleading – the harmful gases will not be less, and moreover, in addition to the regular pollutants, new ones will be formed, even more detrimental to health.

It has been proved that in the process of burning of solid household waste, dioxins and furans are formed, which are part of the big family of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are among the most toxic chemicals known to science. World Health Organization defines dioxins as carcinogens of Group 1 – that is, substances proved to cause cancer to humans.
The formation of fine particles will increase, which are also known for causing breathing and cardio-vascular diseases, anomalies in newborns and cancer, and children are especially vulnerable.

In burning of mixed waste (as is the waste in Sliven on account of the lack of adequate separation in waste collection) a lot of hazardous household waste will go into the furnace – batteries, electrical equipment, cleaning compounds. Toplofikatsia-Sliven EAD claims that it is about burning of separated unhazardous waste, and thus misleads the citizens about the true situation with waste management at the municipality.

The announcement also notes that one of the goals is “considerable reduction of the expense for storing waste”, but it does not mention, that in burning nearly 25% of the total amount of waste is reduced to ashes, a part of them very toxic, which need to be made safe in special facilities for hazardous waste.

Moreover, in burning waste valuable resources are annihilated, which could be otherwise recycled and bring revenue to the municipality. Well known is the positive social effect from the activities of preparation for recycling – a considerable number of jobs created, many more than those created in burning or storing waste. All stakeholders can send their written opinion on this matter to Regional Inspectorate on Water and the Environment – Stara Zagora and Sliven Municipality till December 21, 2015, including Monday.