The Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov is very concerned about the way waste, especially hospital waste, is managed in the capital.
He stated this on bTV, quoted by news.bg.
He stressed that the inspections of the Ministry of Environment and Water have not found a single violation in the control protocols. According to him, the control over hazardous waste is carried out by the Ministry of Health through the Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate (RHI), and not by the Ministry of Environment and Water.
"This problem is quite disturbing to me, where it came from - against the background of the inspections we carry out at the waste treatment plant. The control is in the Ministry of Health, the Sofia RHI carries it out. We at the Ministry of Environment and Water carry out scheduled inspections - 11 such inspections are planned for 2024. We check the way waste is transported and stored in hospitals, but the control itself is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and Water. There is not a single violation or fine imposed in our protocols", the minister said.
Genov criticized the Sofia Municipality, emphasizing that the municipal representatives at the plant and at the landfill are responsible for what is accepted and should not shift the blame to other institutions. "We do not have the right by law to carry out these activities", he was categorical.
He defined the organization of hospital facilities as a function of their management, and the commitment of the Ministry of Environment and Water is activated when a signal is submitted. "Let the mayor come out of the waking coma in which his employees are keeping him", the minister added sharply.
Genov also revealed the existence of a vicious practice in which waste is classified as RDF (combustible waste) in order to avoid the fee of 95 leva per ton. "We are currently checking. The Regional Inspectorate for Environment, Water and Fire Protection - Sofia has recommended that a geodetic survey of the landfill be carried out so that we can physically establish how much free space there is, because we are concerned that it will be filled very quickly," he stressed.
The minister also announced that the Sofia Municipality has not submitted its reports to the National Waste Information System for 5 months. According to him, this is a deliberate concealment of data due to the inability of the plant to cope with the amount of incoming waste. Inspections are underway, and the results will be announced within one to two weeks.
Regarding the country's water resources, Genov warned that the situation is not good.
"Comparing data from recent years and the NIHM forecasts, this year will be similar to last year, and the year before that was the driest, he said. The ministry monitors 52 dams, and the lack of water is due not only to climate change, but also to the neglected policy in water supply. We have been building dams for decades. Apparently, the policy that needs to be undertaken is to build several new dams," Genov said.