Sofia’s Garbage Crisis Deepens: Emergency Declared, Contracts Questioned

A state of emergency has been declared in several districts of Sofia, Bulgaria, due to a mounting garbage crisis. the situation, initially concentrated in the Lyulin and Krasno Selo districts, stems from issues with waste collection services, particularly those provided by the municipal company Sofekostroy and SPTO. The contracts and operational capacity of these companies are now under intense scrutiny as waste accumulates and public health concerns grow.

State of Emergency and Calls for Government Assistance

The declaration of a state of emergency allows the city to request assistance from the national government, including equipment and personnel. Sofia Mayor Boris Bonev has appealed to the government for support,urging them to avoid prioritizing “PR” over effective assistance.

interestingly, the central government initially offered aid to Sofia at the onset of the crisis, but mayor Terziev declined, asserting the municipality could handle the situation independently.

“Absolute Mess” in Krasno Selo and Contractual Concerns

Tsveta Nikolaeva, the mayor of Krasno Selo, paints a grim picture of the current conditions, describing the district as an “absolute mess.” Despite the official transfer of service responsibility to Sofekostroy on January 1, 2026, regular service schedules have not been implemented. Large items like furniture and appliances are not being collected, leading to the formation of illegal dumpsites. Waste bins, previously emptied twice daily, are now only serviced once. Furthermore,Sofekostroy’s aging fleet of trucks frequently break down,exacerbating the problem.

Nikolaeva highlights concerns about the three-year contract with Sofekostroy (with an option for a two-year extension), stating it lacks provisions for service enhancement, modern container replacement, or route/collection monitoring. “This means that the service in the next 3 to 5 years is not only not going to improve, it may even get worse,” she warned.

The specifics of the contract with Sofekostroy, as well as related annexes with companies linked to the Titan holding for city-wide cleaning services, have not been publicly released on the municipality’s website.

In response to the crisis, the “Save Sofia” movement is proposing regulatory changes to allow for exemptions or reductions in garbage fees for residents in affected areas. This proposal requires approval from the Metropolitan Municipal Council, mirroring a similar suggestion made late last year by Lyulin Mayor georgi Todorov.

Operational Issues and Equipment Failures

Mayors from Krasno Selo and Poduyane have reported complications with emergency waste collection efforts.The use of trucks and vehicles from various municipalities and volunteers, while well-intentioned, has revealed incompatibilities with Sofia’s existing waste container infrastructure. One incident involved a waste container becoming lodged in a truck, requiring more than half an hour to remove, disrupting collection services. Mediapool reported on similar operational challenges.

Existing waste containers are also deteriorating, with many breaking or falling apart during collection. Replacement efforts in Poduyane and Slatina are currently stalled. While Krasno Selo and Lyulin have contracts with Sofekostroy, it will take approximately three months to fully implement those contracts. Consequently,residents in these districts can expect further delays in resuming normal waste collection services.

Key Takeaways:

• A state of emergency has been declared in several Sofia districts due to a severe garbage crisis.
• Concerns center on the performance of Sofekostroy and SPTO and the terms of their contracts with the municipality.
• Lack of clarity regarding contract details is raising questions.
• Operational issues with emergency waste collection efforts are compounding the problems.
• Residents are seeking garbage fee reductions due to the inadequate service.