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★Mark us as a preferred sourceThe Bulgarian Association of Recycling (BAR) has strongly criticized a government draft decree aimed at drastically reducing the fees paid for electrical and electronic equipment. The electronic product fee is a vital source of funding for the waste collection and recycling system, and the professional organization argues that the reduction could have severe environmental and financial consequences for Bulgaria.
Background and Scale of the Proposed electronic product fee Cuts
The Bulgarian Association of Recycling addressed its concerns in an official letter to the Prime Minister regarding a new government draft decree. This document proposes amendments to the state regulation on product fees. The association has dismissed the proposed changes as unjustified and economically unviable. According to BAR’s calculations, the proposed fees would be reduced by approximately 400-500%, meaning a four to fivefold drop compared to their levels at the beginning of the year.
National and European Recycling Targets in Jeopardy
The association warns that such a substantial cut to the electronic product fee could destabilize the entire Bulgarian waste-management ecosystem. The amendments could jeopardize both national and European collection and recycling targets. Furthermore, they may lead to an increase in illegal dumping and unjustly shift operational costs onto citizens, municipalities, and the state budget. The professional body argues that these changes were proposed without a proper assessment of their environmental and financial impact, potentially depriving recyclers of the critical resources required to collect over 130,000 tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment annually.
Inflation and Outdated Fee Structures
BAR emphasizes that the current product fees were established back in 2008, a time when economic conditions were vastly different. Since then, costs associated with labor, transport, energy, logistics, technology, infrastructure, and environmental compliance have risen substantially. Citing official data from the National Statistical Institute, the association points out that cumulative inflation between May 2008 and March 2026 has reached 78.2%, a figure that justifies a review and modernization of the fees rather than a drastic reduction.
Severe Financial Penalties Threatening the State
The association also highlights the severe potential financial consequences if Bulgaria fails to meet EU collection and recycling targets. Starting in 2028, an EU own-resource mechanism is expected to impose a rate of EUR 2 per kilogramme of uncollected waste electrical and electronic equipment. The organization estimates that if the collection of 130,000 tonnes of such waste were to halt due to lack of funding, the potential cost to Bulgaria’s national budget could amount to between EUR 400 million and EUR 600 million in direct penalties.
Violation of the “Polluter Pays” Principle
BAR argues that such a scenario would directly undermine the “polluter pays” principle, which is a cornerstone of both Bulgaria’s Waste Management Act and broader EU environmental policy. As a result of the proposed cuts, the financial burden would ultimately be borne by taxpayers and society at large, rather than by the corporate entities responsible for placing electrical and electronic products on the market.
FAQ
Why is the Bulgarian Recycling Association protesting?
The association is protesting a proposed 400-500% cut to the electronic product fee, which could cause a funding shortfall and halt the collection of 130,000 tonnes of e-waste annually.
What are the financial risks of the fee reduction for Bulgaria?
If Bulgaria fails to meet EU e-waste collection targets, the state budget could face penalties ranging from EUR 400 million to EUR 600 million starting in 2028.
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