A plant for mechanical biological treatment of waste was inaugurated Monday at an official ceremony in the village of Yana in the Kremikovtsi administrative district of the capital Sofia under project № DIR-592113-1-9 for the building of an integrated system of facilities for processing of household waste in Sofia Municipality.

The project was realised due to the financial support of OP Environment 2007-2013 and a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB), the press centre of Sofia Municipality announced.

The project aims at building a modern system for household waste management in Sofia Municipality, meeting EU legislation requirements in the field of household waste management.

The project complies with Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste.

Sofia Municipality is the beneficiary under the project, which totals some BGN 345,997,368, about BGN 291,537,381 of which is gratuitous financial aid.

The project was financed under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the state budget of the Republic of Bulgaria through OP Environment 2007-2013 and under its Priority Axis 2 ‘Improvement and development of waste treatment infrastructure’.

The waste treatment plant consists of 5 workshops, where various activities are undertaken to obtain useful materials from waste.

The official inauguration ceremony was attended by Mayor of Sofia Municipality Yordanka Fandakova, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, European Commission Vice President for Budget and Human Resources Kristalina Georgieva, Head of European Commission’s DG Environment Georges Kremlis, Minister of Environment and Water Ivelina Vasileva, EIB Vice-President Laszlo Baranyay, Deputy Mayor of Sofia Municipality Maria Boyadzhiyska, and others.

“The plant for mechanical biological treatment of waste isthe largest industrial construction project [realised] through public resources in the past 25 years and is of key importance to the functioning of the capital city,” said Yordanka Fandakova, Mayor of Sofia, speaking at the official inauguration.

“This is a great success for our city. [When] I am asked which is my favourite project in the capital I cannot make up my mind yet the plant has always been the most special one as it is of key importance to the functioning of the city,” Ms Fandakova went on to say.

“[It is] the largest industrial construction project [realised] through public resources in the past 25 years. This success is due to the mobilisation and support of lots of institutions and people. I would like to thank Prime Minister Boyko Borisov [also for his work] in his capacity of mayor in previous mandates. The first government he led greenlighted the project,” Yordanka Fandakova remarked.

EIB Vice-President Laszlo Baranyay delivered a statement, too.

“Our support for Bulgaria is so far estimated at EUR 4.5 billion,” he said.

“I am content the EIB has managed to contribute to the realisation of the project. The conception of integrated waste management will contribute greatly to the development of the environment. Due to this plant, Bulgaria can much more easily meet the commitments it has taken on in terms of the environment and waste management,” Baranyay commented.