The local administration of Pomorie is undertaking a large-scale transformation in waste management, launching a pilot project in the "Svoboda" neighborhood. The new methodology aims to bring about a radical change in the way citizens handle their household waste.
The key element of the project is the introduction of personalized 40-liter gray bags with individual labels for each household. Specialized vehicles with electronic readers will collect them weekly, simultaneously registering the exact number of bags discarded by each household.
The system provides for drastic changes in the current practice. The old gray containers will be completely removed, with the new personalized bags being the only way to dispose of non-recyclable waste. The financial logic is simple – the fewer waste a household generates, the lower the waste collection fee will be.
For different categories of recyclable materials – paper, plastic, metal, glass, food, and biodegradable waste – specialized containers with controlled access have been installed. Each resident receives a personal chip to use them. Additionally, video surveillance will be mounted to ensure that the containers are used only by residents of the respective area.
Separately collected waste will be transported by special vehicles directly to recycling facilities. The municipality and citizens will not pay a processing fee for purely separated materials.
This approach is not entirely new to Bulgaria. Before Pomorie, the municipality of Svilengrad had already tested a similar model, known as PAYT (pay-as-you-throw), which charges waste according to its actual quantity.
The project represents a significant step towards modern and environmentally friendly waste management, which can serve as a successful model for other Bulgarian municipalities.