DOBRI MITREV: THERE ARE STILL NOT ENOUGH GREEN PROJECTS IN BULGARIA

On the second day of the GREEN TRANSITION 2023 Conference in Sofia, within the framework of the round table "Circular economy, decarbonization, carbon accounting and neutrality", the President of BIA informed that under the auspices of BIA a voluntary platform "Plastic Pact Bulgaria" has been established, which is the first in the Balkans. The aim of the platform is for the industry to reduce the number of packaging as well as to increase their reuse. The circular economy is an education, Dobri Mitrev pointed out. He is of the opinion that for anything that will contribute to reducing waste and carbon footprint, there should be a fast-track legislation. In the words of the BIA President, the circular economy strategy comes from developed countries and "if we are still talking about when and if our economy should be circular, then we are not there yet". He pointed out that there are still an insufficient number of green projects in Bulgaria because the business does not know how to prepare them. There is also a lack of sufficient funding when it comes to slightly riskier investments and longer-term projects.

According to the President of BIA, it is necessary to formulate in the legislation incentives rather than punitive measures for effective separate collection and achievement of recycling targets for municipal waste materials. In addition, the legislation should lay down the rule not to use primary material when secondary material is available - for example, industrial non-hazardous waste with appropriate properties should be used in the construction of roads and other national facilities. "This is a factor for decarbonisation and carbon neutrality. Businesses should be encouraged to apply new production methods, sustainable technologies, eco-design of products, etc.," BIA’s president said.