National Statistical Institute,

2, Panayot Volov Street

1038 Sofia, Bulgaria

For information about the NSI publications please go to:

http://www.nsi.bg

“Environment and energy accounts”

ppetrov@nsi.bg

Waste generated

Treated waste

Number and capacity of landfills

Number and capacity of incineration and recycling plants

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

All NACE sectors and households

Tonnes of waste, Number of installations and landfills, Capacity of installations and landfills

Enterprises and households

All enterprises over 10 employees and households

All enterprises over 10 employees and households

2004-2020

2004

Determination of extractive waste generation (new section)

The materials are not included in reporting data, because they are not supposed be treated as waste. According to Regulation of Waste statistics Waste recycled on the site where it was generated shall not be covered.

Table 5:         Coverage of waste statistics with regard to extractive waste¹⁾

¹⁾ Please mark with an X whether the listed materials are completely covered, partially covered or generally excluded from waste statistics.

Determination of waste generated by households

Table 6:         Determination methods for waste generated by households

The aim of the report is to improve the system of data collection of households’ origin waste in the Republic of Bulgaria. In Bulgaria there are several populations’ origin waste streams.

First stream is organized municipal waste collection, where the waste is collected in containers and then is transported to systems for pre-treatment and / or directly to landfills for municipal solid waste.

Second stream is separately collected packaging waste. They are collected by the recovery organizations and directly go for recycling.

Third stream is consisted by waste transmitted by the population of sites for waste collection. This includes metal packaging, automotive, electrical and electronic equipment, batteries and other recyclable materials waste.

Object of the survey are second and third waste streams. For the purpose of providing information about the origin of waste on treatment installations were selected a number of enterprises, whose economic activity is in the field of the following economic sectors: "Collection and disposal", "Recycling of materials" and "Wholesale of waste and scrap." Since the first two streams have clear evidence of the origin of waste, we headed to the third stream. For the purposes of the project were developed statistical methodology and tools for conducting the survey.

The population was based on data from the register of holders of documents for waste collection activity (including the widespread waste) of EEA and will be completed by statistical register of companies in the corresponding sector. We also added enterprises that are not included in the register of EEA, but they perform waste management activities. The list covered all enterprises with a turnover of over 100 thousand BGN. For all the rest enterprises we made statistical estimation. The population cover was around 700 enterprises. This list was sent to the EEA. The EEA conducted the survey. After receiving the data set of carried out survey was found that the questionnaires are filled completely and correctly. As a source of data were used accounting documents.

                For waste that there are not invoices, but only cash receipts are classified as waste from the population.

                In companies with several sites, each site is described separately.

The results of the survey are summarized in several sections of the form as follows: total quantities, quantities received from other companies, and quantities transferred to other companies.

In data processing is form a hierarchical structure of the movement of waste, the first level of which are received quantities of waste by population or public companies and institutions. The next level is flow between small and large companies in the sectors of "Recycling" and "Collection of scrap."

                Based on data, containing identification code (BULSTAT) has been avoided duplication of quantities in the internal flow of waste between companies. In some cases, when small companies are not filled out the questionnaire, but have sent waste to other companies, the relevant quantities are classified as waste from the population.

Part of the studied waste (from population) comes from the collection points for recyclables and sites for pre-treatment of waste. Another part of the waste comes from system of separate collection including containers for paper and packaging, as well as reception centres for electronic and electrical equipment, containers for batteries and others.

The process is similar for waste collection companies, with the difference that in the large companies and organizations are located containers for separate waste collection. Relevant organization of utilization collects quantities of waste and transport them for recycling. Small companies use network separation located out of the buildings. Practice is when there are large quantities of waste directly to contact to specific company for recycling/ utilization.

After the waste is collected to the smaller sites it is stored to collection of a sufficient quantity to be transported to a large site or directly recycling. If it possible, the company can directly export the collected waste for recycling abroad.

Unlike the reception centres, waste generated by the system of separate collection is not paid. After the waste is collected in containers it enters in sites for pre-treatment. Waste that does not require pre-treatment is directly transferred for recycling or it is exported for utilization.

In processing of individual data was made analysis about movement of waste. All circles of turnover between sites, recycling companies and scrap collection were closed.

From the results of the survey is seen that a large amount of waste on sites is delivered by population. The explanation is that in a relatively low income of the population is used every possibility to receive money. In this situation, even the smallest amounts of valuable waste for recycling are sent to the sites against payment.

Depending on income, which would bring the waste and the formation of the modern way of thinking, in Bulgaria there are three parallel streams of waste from population.

The first is an organized collection by municipalities and separate collection by organizations for utilization/ recycling of packaging.

The second are the sites that collect waste against payment.

The third is an organized separate collection by utilization/ recycling organizations.

Through the conducted survey are covered not only pure materials for processing, but the relevant quantities of packaging and discarded electronic and electrical equipment, ELV and other widespread waste. Waste recycling companies get data not only for collected widespread waste, but the quantities of secondary waste resulting from the dismantling.

Data sets 2 and 3: Waste treatment

General description of methodology 

The waste treatment facilities in Bulgaria are identified from the register of the permits for waste treatment, which is operated by the ExEA.

The permits are given by the Ministry of Environment and Waters (MOEW) according Article 12 of the Waste Management Act. The permits cover not only the waste facilities but waste collecting, transport, temporary storage. The register is continuously updated and the number of permits is rising.

For the purposes of the wastes survey, NSI received from MOEW the list of enterprises with permits for 2006. The list included the following information:

- BULSTAT - the identification number from the Statistical Register. (The BULSTAT is officially used by MOEW and ExEA storing information on enterprise level);

- name of enterprise;

- the R&D codes for which the permit is given.

After checking and adding the actual address and telephone numbers from the statistical register, the list was sent to the Regional Statistical Offices (RSO). The list was used for sending the questionnaires.  

Identification of relevant treatment facilities

For identification of relevant treatment facilities Administrative registers of ExEA

- Data base of treatment facilities by Executive Environmental Agency

- Waste management act.

- Cover whole treatment facilities

- Updating the register shall be made ​​annually

Table 7:         Registers used for identification of waste treatment operations

Data collection on treated quantities

Data on treated hazardous waste is administrative data, provided by the ExEA, based on the annual reports according to Ordinance No.9.

The data about the treated quantities of non-hazardous wastes are collected together with the survey on waste generation made by NSI and administrative data, provided by the ExEA. The sample contains all waste treatment enterprises, which were known to NSI (exhaustive coverage of sectors36,37 38).

The amount of treated municipal waste is collected by an exhaustive survey of municipalities.

                - Survey on non-hazardous wastes, studied population - enterprises;

                - Survey on municipal wastes, studied population - municipal authorities.

The surveys are included in the National Programme for Statistical Surveys.

The questionnaires used for the surveys (2014) are given in Annexes 1, 2 and 3of the QR.

The surveys are annual.

The R&D codes and European List of Waste

Table 8:  Determination of treated waste quantities

Data collection on capacity of treatment facilities

The data on the capacity of treatment installation is stored in the administrative register of treatment installations. Information is based on the permit and is updated when the permit is changed. Additionally, the data are revised in certain intervals by ExEA with the aim to ensure that accurate data on the capacity is stored in the register. Data on the permit capacity is reported, which should be the same as the operational capacity.

Landfills have to report the remaining capacity annually according to Annex 7 to Art.9(1) item 3 to Regulation No.9 dated 28.09.2006 on the Order and Formats in which Information on the Waste Activities is to be provided, as well as for Filling-in Public Register of the Issued Permits, Registration Documents and Decommissioned Sites and Activities.

All other treatment facilities do not have to report the capacity annually as this information is already stored in the register of treatment facilities.

The list of the treatment facilities is based on an administrative register. The licences are given by MOEW, but the monitoring and control functions are of responsibility of ExEA. For the facilities the following classification is used:

- Installations for incinerating (with and without energy producing);

- Physicochemical;

- Mechanical,

- Recycling;

- Biological 

The licences are based on the R&D codes.

Major Changes

Changes compared with previous years

Methodological changes to the quantities generated and treated mine waste. Large amounts of waste is not disposed of and used to back fill. They are excluded from the waste generated.

Foreseen changes

No changes currently foreseen.

1. Assessment of the continuity of the data source, e.g. legal basis for the data source:

    

   The data source for non-hazardous wastes generation and treatment in sectors 1 is a statistical survey (in some economic activities comprehensive from register of ExEA, in others - sample survey). The survey is based on the Statistical Register and covers the units by the income.

    

   The data source for non-hazardous waste generation and treatment in sectors 2-18 is a statistical survey (in some economic activities comprehensive from register of ExEA, in others - sample survey). The survey is based on the Statistical Register and covers the units with more than 10 employees.

    

   The data source for hazardous waste generation and treatment is the administrative register of the Executive Environmental Agency (ExEA).

    

   Data on municipal waste generation and treatment is collected by an exhaustive survey covering all municipalities and survey about origin of recyclable waste from of ExEA.

    

   For data on the number and capacity of treatment facilities the administrative register of the ExEA is the data source.

    

   In case where no primary data are available, statistical estimations are used.

Annual.

Data collection with questionnaire and information of ExEA

Assessment of the continuity of the data source, e.g. legal basis for the data source:

The data source for non-hazardous wastes generation and treatment in sectors 1 is a statistical survey (in some economic activities comprehensive from register of ExEA, in others - sample survey). The survey is based on the Statistical Register and covers the units with more than 10 employees.

The data source for non-hazardous waste generation and treatment in sectors 2-18 is a statistical survey (in some economic activities comprehensive from register of ExEA, in others - sample survey). The survey is based on the Statistical Register and covers the units with more than 10 employees.

The data source for hazardous waste generation and treatment is the administrative register of the Executive Environmental Agency (ExEA).

Data on municipal waste generation and treatment is collected by an exhaustive survey covering all municipalities and survey about origin of recyclable waste from of ExEA.

For data on the number and capacity of treatment facilities the administrative register of the ExEA is the data source.

In case where no primary data are available, statistical estimations are used.

The answers to the questions are in the annex

1. Assessment of the continuity of the data source, e.g. legal basis for the data source:

    

   The data source for non-hazardous wastes generation and treatment in sectors 1 is a statistical survey (in some economic activities comprehensive from register of ExEA, in others - sample survey). The survey is based on the Statistical Register and covers the units by the income.

    

   The data source for non-hazardous waste generation and treatment in sectors 2-18 is a statistical survey (in some economic activities comprehensive from register of ExEA, in others - sample survey). The survey is based on the Statistical Register and covers the units with more than 10 employees.

    

   The data source for hazardous waste generation and treatment is the administrative register of the Executive Environmental Agency (ExEA).

    

   Data on municipal waste generation and treatment is collected by an exhaustive survey covering all municipalities and survey about origin of recyclable waste from of ExEA.

    

   For data on the number and capacity of treatment facilities the administrative register of the ExEA is the data source.

    

   In case where no primary data are available, statistical estimations are used.

No avail|able.

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

[not requested]

The data are published in an annual statistical publication and are used by the Executive Environment Agency for the purpose of waste management planning, and by the Ministry of Environment and Waters to produce the annual report to the Parliament.

The data are published in an annual statistical publication and are used by the Executive Environment Agency for the purpose of waste management planning, and by the Ministry of Environment and Waters to produce the annual report to the Parliament.

The data are published in an annual statistical publication and are used by the Executive Environment Agency for the purpose of waste management planning, and by the Ministry of Environment and Waters to produce the annual report to the Parliament.

According to the methodology, there are no missing data.

The data are published in an annual statistical publication and used by the Executive Environment Agency for the purpose of waste management planning, and by the Ministry of Environment and Water to produce the annual report to the Parliament.

According to the methodology, there is no missing data.

Because of the rather low response rate the coefficients of variation are not calculated. Non-sampling error are described below.

Because of the rather low response rate the coefficients of variation are not calculated.

Because of the rather low response rate the coefficients of variation are not calculated.

Coverage errors

• For Annex I on waste generation: description of the method(s) applied to reach 100% coverage;

• Concerning non-hazardous waste other than municipal waste, it was tried to achieve 100% coverage by selecting a representative sample from all economic sectors that means coverage of sectors A, C-Q. Enterprises with less than 10 employees are not covered by the survey because in Bulgaria it is expected that their waste is collected by the municipal waste collection service. By using an estimation method as described in Part 1, the amount of mixed waste generated by the service sector is estimated.

• Concerning hazardous waste, there should be 100% coverage as there is a legal obligation to report the generation and treatment of hazardous waste to the ExEA. Nevertheless it has to be taken into account that this specific reporting obligation came into force only in 2006, which might have had a diminishing effect on the coverage in practice.

• •     For Annex II on waste treatment: description of the waste treatment facilities, which are excluded from reporting and the reason for their exclusion;

• All waste disposal facilities are legally obliged to report to the ExEA.

• Description of how the amount of commercial waste from enterprises/shops included in household waste is assessed; what method is used to estimate pure household waste;

• Description of the main problems of misclassification, under-coverage and over-coverage encountered in collecting the data.

• Though there were some drawbacks in data collection, especially concerning the low response rate, problems in misclassification, under-coverage or over-coverage could not be identified.

Measurement errors

•              Which statistical units are applied in which part of the data set?

The statistical unit used for the sample survey is the enterprise.

•              Errors in precision of quantities:

In 2020, there was comparatively little weighing of waste. Not all waste disposal facilities were equipped with weighing equipment. Therefore, to a large extent the amount of waste is estimated, based on common assumptions of amount of waste per container or amount of waste per volume. This measurement error cannot be quantified.

•              A description of the information quality of the data collection:

The questionnaire was validated in a focus group of experts from the ExEA and NSI.

 Processing errors 

The questionnaires were sent out by the Regional Statistical Offices to the enterprises. A deadline was set for the return of the questionnaires. The data were entered by the Regional Statistical Offices and the files containing the raw data were sent to NSI. There was an arithmetic control and logical control of the data, e.g. plausibility check based on amount of waste/employee. An extension of the sample data was made using the statistical methods described in part 1 of this report.

Non-response errors 

•     Response rate at the level of the key aggregates: 57%

Model assumption errors 

Not applicable

• •              For Annex I on waste generation: description of the method(s) applied to reach 100% coverage;

• Concerning non-hazardous waste other than municipal waste, it was tried to achieve 100% coverage by selecting a representative sample from all economic sectors that means coverage of sectors A, C-Q. Enterprises with less than 10 employees are not covered by the survey because in Bulgaria it is expected that their waste is collected by the municipal waste collection service. By using an estimation method as described in Part 1, the amount of mixed waste generated by the service sector is estimated.

• Concerning hazardous waste, there should be 100% coverage as there is a legal obligation to report the generation and treatment of hazardous waste to the ExEA. Nevertheless it has to be taken into account that this specific reporting obligation came into force only in 2006, which might have had a diminishing effect on the coverage in practice.

• •              For Annex II on waste treatment: description of the waste treatment facilities, which are excluded from reporting and the reason for their exclusion;

• All waste disposal facilities are legally obliged to report to the ExEA.

• Description of how the amount of commercial waste from enterprises/shops included in household waste is assessed; what method is used to estimate pure household waste;

• •              Description of the main problems of misclassification, under-coverage and over-coverage encountered in collecting the data.

• Though there were some drawbacks in data collection, especially concerning the low response rate, problems in misclassification, under-coverage or over-coverage could not be identified.

• •              For Annex I on waste generation: description of the method(s) applied to reach 100% coverage;

• Concerning non-hazardous waste other than municipal waste, it was tried to achieve 100% coverage by selecting a representative sample from all economic sectors that means coverage of sectors A, C-Q. Enterprises with less than 10 employees are not covered by the survey because in Bulgaria it is expected that their waste is collected by the municipal waste collection service. By using an estimation method as described in Part 1, the amount of mixed waste generated by the service sector is estimated.

• Concerning hazardous waste, there should be 100% coverage as there is a legal obligation to report the generation and treatment of hazardous waste to the ExEA. Nevertheless it has to be taken into account that this specific reporting obligation came into force only in 2006, which might have had a diminishing effect on the coverage in practice.

• •              For Annex II on waste treatment: description of the waste treatment facilities, which are excluded from reporting and the reason for their exclusion;

• All waste disposal facilities are legally obliged to report to the ExEA.

• Description of how the amount of commercial waste from enterprises/shops included in household waste is assessed; what method is used to estimate pure household waste;

• •              Description of the main problems of misclassification, under-coverage and over-coverage encountered in collecting the data.

• Though there were some drawbacks in data collection, especially concerning the low response rate, problems in misclassification, under-coverage or over-coverage could not be identified.

•Summary of the processing steps between collection and production of statistics, including measures to detect and rectify processing errors;

•The questionnaires were sent out by the Regional Statistical Offices to the enterprises. A deadline was set for the return of the questionnaires. The data were entered by the Regional Statistical Offices and the files containing the raw data were sent to NSI. There was an arithmetic control and logical control of the data, e.g. plausibility check based on amount of waste/employee. An extension of the sample data was made using the statistical methods described in part 1 of this report.

•              Which statistical units are applied in which part of the data set?

The statistical unit used for the sample survey is the enterprise.

•              Errors in precision of quantities:

In 2016, there was comparatively little weighing of waste. Not all waste disposal facilities were equipped with weighing equipment. Therefore, to a large extent the amount of waste is estimated, based on common assumptions of amount of waste per container or amount of waste per volume. This measurement error cannot be quantified.

•              A description of the information quality of the data collection:

The questionnaire was validated in a focus group of experts from the ExEA and NSI.

Response rate at the level of the key aggregates: 67%

The survey was of mixed type and is not calculated response rate.

The survey was of mixed type and is not calculated response rate.

Summary of the processing steps between collection and production of statistics, including measures to detect and rectify processing errors; The questionnaires were sent out by the Regional Statistical Offices to the enterprises. A deadline was set for the return of the questionnaires.

The data were entered by the Regional Statistical Offices and the files containing the raw data were sent to NSI. There was an arithmetic control and logical control of the data, e.g. plausibility check based on amount of waste/employee. An extension of the sample data was made using the statistical methods described in part 1 of this report.

• Summary of the processing steps between collection and production of statistics, including measures to detect and rectify processing errors;
• The questionnaires were sent out by the Regional Statistical Offices to the enterprises. A deadline was set for the return of the questionnaires. The data were entered by the Regional Statistical Offices and the files containing the raw data were sent to NSI. There was an arithmetic control and logical control of the data, e.g. plausibility check based on amount of waste/employee. An extension of the sample data was made using the statistical methods described in part 1 of this report. 

Not applicable

Not applicable

No available.

Not applicable

No available.

No available.

The data collection process started March 2021 and finished in May 2021.

Data processing took place from May 2021 to December 2021.

The data collection process started March 2021 and finished in May 2021.

Data processing took place from May 2021 to December 2021

The data collection process started March 2021 and finished in May 2021.

Data processing took place from May 2021 to December 2021.

The data on waste are published in the Environmental Statistical Publications according to national rules

The data on waste are published in the Environmental Statistical Publications according to national rules

As for the reference year 2020 there was only one data source for waste data (as described in this report), coherence of data was not a problem.

• In order to assess the comparability between national data generated using different methodologies, it is necessary for the impact of restrictions with regard to coverage and precision of the data to be clarified (based on elements of accuracy above);

• Comparability over time: both changes relative to the previous reference period and anticipated changes in the next reference period should be reported. Details of changes in definitions, coverage or methods should be specified (refer to Part I). An evaluation of the consequences should be carried out.

There are some methodological changes but data are comparable with those for previous years.

No  available.

• In order to assess the comparability between national data generated using different methodologies, it is necessary for the impact of restrictions with regard to coverage and precision of the data to be clarified (based on elements of accuracy above);

• Comparability over time: both changes relative to the previous reference period and anticipated changes in the next reference period should be reported. Details of changes in definitions, coverage or methods should be specified (refer to Part I). An evaluation of the consequences should be carried out.

There are some methodological changes but data are comparable with those for previous years.

There are some methodological changes but data are comparable with those for previous years (2004-2018).

As for the reference year 2020 there was only one data source for waste data (as described in this report), coherence of data was not a problem.

...

Only annual statistics.

No availlable.

As for the reference year 2020 there was only one data source for waste data (as described in this report), coherence of data was not a problem.

 Waste statistics are disseminated according to the existing practice of disseminating and publishing statistics. The confidentiality policy is based on the Law on Statistics (Article 25, 26, 27).

NSI webside :

https://nsi.bg

NSI webside :

https://nsi.bg

NSI webside :

https://nsi.bg

NSI webside :

https://nsi.bg

NSI webside : https://nsi.bg

No.

NSI webside : https://nsi.bg

Quality report.

NSI webside : https://nsi.bg

NSI webside : https://nsi.bg

The burden on respondents could not be quantified. Surveys on waste generation have a long tradition in Bulgaria, but the burden has increased because more detailed information was requested (e.g. waste classification according LoW). Additionally, the sample in the 2020 survey was smaller than in previous years, thus decreasing the burden.

The following table may be used for this purpose.

no Confidentiality

No confidentiality.

No confidentiality.

no comments