The Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Reneta Koleva and NGO representatives discussed investment intentions for the construction of additional facilities for waste utilization by incineration.

“We cannot stop legal entities from making investment proposals, but we can assess them and prevent potential risks to the environment,” said Deputy Minister Koleva at the meeting. She emphasized that the dialogue between institutions and citizens is vital, whereby the Regional Health Inspections have a leading role in health risk assessment of the projects.

Regarding citizens’ concerns that waste treatment facilities can be located in the immediate vicinity of residential buildings, Reneta Koleva said that currently an agreement is being forged on the “Ordinance on the conditions and requirements for sites for storage or waste treatment, for the deployment of waste treatment facilities and for the transportation of production and hazardous waste”, which will also regulate the distances from residential buildings.