Photo: Municipality of Tryavna
The municipality of Tryavna will not introduce the new method of calculating waste collection fees based on the “polluter pays” principle this year or next year. The realistic horizon for the new method of calculating the amount of household waste is 2028, which is the end of the legally defined grace period.
No readiness for change
This became clear from a discussion in the Municipal Council at the end of its last meeting in December 2025. At the meeting, the local administration acknowledged that it did not have the technical, organizational, and public readiness to implement the new methodology.
Therefore, the Municipality of Tryavna will use the grace period introduced by an extension law until the end of 2028, reporting every six months to the Ministry of Finance on the progress of the implementation of the new methodology.
Municipal councilor Boyan Grozev raised the question of whether real action would be taken by the end of this grace period to introduce the “polluter pays” principle, or whether the issue would be left for the next term, noting that it was not so much a matter of expert opinion as a political choice.
The introduction of the “polluter pays” principle requires in-depth analysis and coordination, as there are various possible methods, replied Mayor Dencho Minev, admitting that he was initially skeptical about the bag model, but after further study, he concluded that this approach is also applicable under certain conditions, as permitted by law for some municipalities.
According to him, a long preparatory process lies ahead, including testing of options and extensive communication with citizens. The mayor said he would take responsibility for earlier implementation if the municipality was ready, but realistically expects this to happen in 2028, once all the steps have been well prepared and discussed.
Choice between different models
During the meeting, a number of issues were raised that highlighted the difficulties in introducing the “polluter pays” principle. These include the lack of a complete system for accurately measuring waste generated, the need for specialized software, which is still being negotiated, and uncertainties surrounding the choice of a specific model for applying the fee—through bags, containers, volume, or other means.
The municipal councilors also expressed concerns about the practical implementation of the proposed measures. As an example, it was pointed out that currently only 30-liter waste bags are planned to be purchased—a size that, according to some councilors, is unsuitable for households and could lead to additional costs, organizational difficulties, and tension among citizens. The administration acknowledged that this issue is still under consideration and that larger bags may also be provided.
Another significant problem is related to the regional landfill and the sorting facility, which is not owned by the municipality. The contract for the operator of the sorting machine is expiring, and market research shows a significant increase in waste sorting prices – from around BGN 105 excluding VAT to over BGN 130 per ton. This makes planning difficult and forecasts uncertain, especially in the context of the upcoming change in the waste collection fee model.
No change in the waste collection fee rate in 2026
For the second consecutive year, the municipality of Tryavna does not foresee an increase in the household waste fee, as can be seen from the published draft budget for waste collection, transport, and disposal for 2026, which is open for public discussion.
The rate for citizens remains unchanged, with the highest rate for villages in the municipality of Tryavna (12.56 per thousand), the lowest for the town of Tryavna (8.68), and for the town of Plachkovtsi and some villages it is 12.06 per thousand.
The fee is being kept unchanged against the backdrop of higher waste disposal costs, which, according to the budget, will be €130,000 higher than in 2025. The higher cost comes from the new minimum wage, higher costs for work clothes, and new activities for collecting, storing, and transporting household waste, including GPS tracking and other tech solutions. In addition, there is the maintenance of a site for the free delivery of separately collected household waste from households.
The municipality of Tryavna is the only one in the Gabrovo region to have “invisible containers.”
This undoubtedly shows that the town’s residents are prepared for the new developments in waste collection and environmentally friendly waste treatment. From 2022, there will be six sites with underground containers in the municipality of Tryavna under a project financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Operational Program “Environment 2014-2020.” Perhaps once the residents of Tryavna get used to disposing of their waste underground, they will quickly get used to doing it in a new way, whatever that may be, as chosen by the local municipal administration.
