Free energy
With the added allure of free energy as a by-product, incineration has become a popular means of disposal. According to Ivaylo Hlebarov of Bankwatch Bulgaria, Sofia's waste management strategy foregoes any binding targets for recycling and waste prevention in favour of incineration, making it "a pathetic document focused on big infrastructure." As in many places, finding a location for an actual plant is much more difficult than garnering theoretical support for incinerators.
Coincidentally, Naples has also based its waste management hopes on incineration. Although some feel that the same group that runs the local waste dumps is also responsible for blocking the construction of incinerators, it is clear that there are also local objections to their construction.
In an ironic turn of events, the trash is being burned anyway: on the street by local residents. Citing odour, pests, toxic fumes and concerns about disease, locals started setting fire to the piles of rubbish after weeks of accumulation. The odour of rotting rubbish turned into toxic fumes. While a clearly nearsighted solution, the act of burning the filth is better characterised as one of desperation.
Although Sofia residents might resort to similar measures if faced with a similar situation — as has happened in the past — it is more likely that illegal waste dumps will absorb excess flow. Illegal tips are a common problem throughout South-Eastern Europe, which is far more sparsely populated than Western Europe, and enforcement is slack. According to Hlebarov, there are several small tips around Sofia and a large one at the city's western perimeter. He also points out that rivers are frequently dumped in, as evidenced by accumulating rubbish in the county's river basins.
