The idea of building a facility for waste incineration near Pazardzhik dates back to 2008. An approval by the RIEW Pazardzhik for the project has been given. Members of the local branch of the Greens political party started a procedure to appeal the RIEW decision to the Ministry of Environment and Water, arguing that the construction of an incinerator near Pazardzhik is unacceptable and poses a serious danger to public health. |
| Name | Pazardzhik Incinerator, Bulgaria |
| Country | Bulgaria |
| Province | Pazardzhik |
| Site | Pazardzhik |
| Accuracy of Location | MEDIUM regional level |
| Type of Conflict (1st level) | Waste Management |
| Type of Conflict (2nd level) | Incinerators |
| Specific Commodities | Domestic municipal waste |
| Project Details | Ca. 32 000 tonnes/year of unsorted/mixed municipal waste to be incinerated, using 19 000 m3 of water, location within a Natura 2000 protected site, generating 18 000 tonnes/year of bottom ash and ca. 1 500 tonnes/year fly ash (classified as hazardous waste). |
| Project Area (in hectares) | 4.9 |
| Type of Population | Urban |
| Potential Affected Population | 290000 |
| Start Date | 01/2008 |
| Company Names or State Enterprises | Intercontinental Utilities Development And Construction Pazardjik Ltd. from Bulgaria |
| Relevant government actors | Regional Inspectorate on Environment and Water, Ministry of Environment and Water |
| Environmental justice organisations and other supporters | The Greens Political Party, Za Zemiata (GAIA member);, Birdlife Bulgaria [BSPB], Association for agrarian and ecological, projects, GAIA |
| Intensity of Conflict (at highest level) | LOW (some local organising) |
| When did the mobilization begin | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
| Groups Mobilizing | Local ejos Local government/political parties |
| Forms of Mobilization | Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Objections to the EIA |
| Environmental Impacts | Potential: Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity) |
| Health Impacts | Potential: Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…), Other environmental related diseases |
| Project Status | Stopped |
| Pathways for conflict outcome / response | Court decision (victory for environmental justice) New Environmental Impact Assessment/Study Project cancelled |
| Development of Alternatives | -Cancel the Incinerator project |
| Do you consider this as a success? | Yes |
| Why? Explain briefly. | The Ministry sided with the Greens and scrapped the RIEW-Pazardjik approval of construction of the incinerator because of the non-satisfactory quantity and quality of information in the EIA. There has been an appeal by the investor of the project against the decision of the Ministry before the 3-member panel of the Supreme Administrative Court. Proceedings are being conducted between the investor and the Ministry and the Greens have become party to the defendants (MOEW). The three-member panel of SAC ruled in favor of the Ministry. The decision of the 5-member panel of SAC is most likely to be in favor of the Ministry, i.e. against the construction of the incinerator. |
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| Contributor | Evgenia Tasheva |
| Last update | 08/04/2014 |