Is Bulgaria at risk of missing both the municipal waste and the total packaging waste recycling targets in 2025?

Breaking the link between economic growth and waste generation is a key objective of the revised EU Waste Framework Directive. Stabilising waste generation is no longer enough, it is necessary to reverse the growth trajectory of waste. To encourage this, the EU has set targets to increase recycling and reduce landfilling - by 2025, 55% of municipal waste and 65% of packaging waste must be prepared for reuse or recycled. The Commission's 2023 Early Warning Report notes that many Member States are at risk of not achieving one or more of the 2025 and 2035 targets. One of them is Bulgaria, which is at risk of not achieving both targets – municipal waste prepared for reuse and recycling (55%) and recycled packaging waste (65%) by 2025, especially for plastic and glass waste. This study presents an analysis of waste statistics in 2023 and 2024 in the context of EU targets. Input data sources included the annual reports and other available statistical information from National Statistics Institute, Ministry of Environment and Waters, and four Producer Responsibility Organizations (Bulecopack, Ecobulpack, Ecopack Bulgaria, Eco Partners Bulgaria). The methodology for analysis included both quantitative and qualitative indicators, assessed separately and then in complex. In 2023, Bulgaria does not achieve the overall packaging waste recycling target - the achieved recycling rate for the period is 57.95%, compared to the regulatory target of 63%. The recycling targets for plastic and aluminum packaging waste are also not being met, although packaging waste recovery organizations have proven to be meeting their packaging waste recycling obligations. This highlights the need for improving reporting mechanisms and data quality. Progress and a slight increase in the recycling rate were reported in 2024, which suggests that this target may be successfully achieved by the end of 2025.