Protest against the construction of a waste incineration plant in Pavlikeni

Hundreds of residents of Pavlikeni and neighbouring towns (Northern Bulgaria) gathered to protest in front of the building of the municipality on January 27. People are against the construction of a plant for the production of stone wool, which, however, will burn more than 1,000 tonnes of household waste every day.

The project envisions the installation being less than a kilometre away from the village of Varbovka. People are adamant that if it works, it will pollute the air, water and land for decades to come.

Meanwhile, at a municipal meeting today, councilors adopted a declaration supporting the protesting people, but said that from now on everything is in the hands of the Ministry of Environment.

"We are protesting against the construction of a huge installation in the centre of Northern Bulgaria, one of the regions with the most fertile land. The worst is the complex, long-lasting and cumulative impact of the entire Mendeleev table, plus extremely toxic and carcinogenic substances released in huge quantities,". Vladislav Ivanov from the Green Pavlikeni Association said.

"From now on, apart from a local referendum, successful, the powers of the municipality, nothing else... everything is in the hands of the Ministry of Environment and Water," added the mayor of Pavlikeni Municipality Emanuil Manolov.