The implementation activities within the project "Reclamation of landfills for closure subject to EU law infringement in case C-145/14" were publicly presented. Under the project more than 30 municipal non-hazardous waste landfills in the country have been reclaimed. The total area reclaimed is 102.56 ha in 31 municipalities. The investment amounts to 43.7 million BGN, provided by the Operational Programme "Environment 2014-2020" with EMEPA as a beneficiary.

"The implementation of this kind of projects shows that our surrounding environment and landscape should meet specific requirements," said at the event the Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Reneta Koleva and added that thanks to our intensive talks with the European Commission, the referral to the Court of Justice and the imposition of sanctions against Bulgaria did not take place.

Galina Simeonova, Head of the Managing Authority of Operational Programme "Environment 2014-2020" thanked the EMEPA team for the accomplished work and wished them to continue working in such a way that the country would not be subject to an infringement procedure.

The project is the final part of the targeted policy by the Ministry of Environment and Water to meet the obligations of our country to close the existing municipal landfills for non-hazardous waste that do not meet the requirements of European legislation. At the time of the decision by the Court of Justice of the EU, the number of municipal landfills to be closed was 113. As a result of targeted efforts, on 17 November 2023 the reclamation of the last non-compliant municipal landfill was completed. Bulgaria notified the European Commission that all landfills subject to the 2015 court decision have been closed and reclaimed and that Bulgaria has complied with its obligations under EU law.

Landfill closure and reclamation minimize environmental pollution by ceasing the dusting of light fraction waste from landfills, preventing potential contamination of water sources, capturing and removing landfill gas safely and securely from the landfill body, and improving the living conditions of the population.

The purpose of landfill closure and reclamation is to encapsulate the landfills by isolating them from the surrounding land through an upper watertight screen and with protective drainage ditches to convey rainwater away from the landfill bodies and surrounding land. This also prevents surface water from flowing into them, said EMEPA experts.

The European Commission is currently carrying out an inspection of the reported implementation of the completed reclamation activities at all 113 municipal landfills, and a positive assessment by the Commission is expected in early 2024.