Environmental Statistics - 2024

1. WATER STATISTICS

In 2024, 99.5% of the population in the country were connected to public water supply.

The water delivered to the households was 260.32 mln. m³, reporting an increase of 4% compared to 2023.

In 2024, 5.8% of the population in the country had a water supply regime (due to drought), as 5.0% having seasonal regime (up to 180 days), and 0.8% having a year-round regime (over 180 days). The most affected by the water supply regime (due to drought) were the districts of Lovech - 56.3%, Pleven - 51.1%, Targovishte - 33.8%, and Pernik - 17.8%.

In 2024, 75.4% of the population is connected to public sewerage, and 67.6% of the population - to sewerage leading to a WWTP.

182 active urban wastewater treatment plants, 78 803 km public water supply network and 13 362 km public sewage network were reported in 2024.

Figure 1. Population with water services - %

2. MUNICIPAL WASTE

In 2024, 3 192 thousand tons of municipal waste were generated, which is 0.9% more than in 2023.

The amount of municipal waste generated per capita is 496 kg, which is 5 kg per capita more than in 2023.

The share of the population served by the organized waste collection system was 99.94%, almost unchanged compared to 2023.

Figure 2. Total generated municipal waste - thousand tons

3. PACKAGES PLACED ON THE MARKET

In 2024, 458 thousand tons of packaging were placed on the market - 9.8% less than in 2023. Plastic packaging was 139.8 thousand tons, which is 1.4% less than in 2023. Paper packaging was 140.1 thousand tons, which is 0.8% more than in 2023.

Figure 3. Packages placed on the market - thousand tons

4. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS WITH ECOLOGICAL USE

The availability of TFAs with environmental purposes (at reporting value) as of 31.12.2024 was BGN 11 896 million, compared to BGN 11 483 million as of 31.12.2023, which is 1.0% more.

In 2024, the largest share was held by wastewater treatment and disposal assets (34%), followed by waste treatment assets (33%) and air protection assets (27%). Compared to 2023, the share of the first group decreased by 1 percentage point (from 35% to 34%), the share of the second increased by 1 percentage point (from 32% to 33%), and the third remained unchanged (27%).

Figure 4. Availability of tangible fixed assets with ecological use by main environmental domains - million BGN

5. REVENUE FROM TAXES AND FEES AND EXPENDITURE FOR MUNICIPAL WASTE TOTAL FOR THE COUNTRY

In 2024, the revenues of municipal administrations amounted to BGN 2 722 million, which is 10.8% more compared to 2023. Revenues from taxes and household waste fees amounted to BGN 842 million, which is 7.7% more compared to 2023.

The value of household waste expenditures of municipal administrations in 2024 was BGN 759 million, representing an increase of 9.5% compared to the previous year.

Expenditures on household waste amounted to BGN 759 million, which represents 90.1% of the revenues from taxes and household waste fees.

Figure 5. Revenue from taxes and fees and expenditure for municipal waste - million BGN

6. UNDERGROUND RESERVES

In 2024, the total area of deposits was 986.4 thousand decares, of which 671.2 thousand decares were deposits for coal mining (68.0%). 17 204 people were employed in the extraction of minerals, which is 9.0% more than in 2023 (15 594 employed persons). The growth rate was highest in the extraction of metallic minerals (+27%). The largest number of employed persons was in the persons of coal and metal ores (41%). There was a 13% increase in the number of employed persons in the extraction of non-metallic materials and raw materials, compared to 2023.

Compared to 2023, proven reserves decreased by 13% in metallic, non-metallic-industrial subsoil resources and construction materials and by 5% in solid fuels. The probable reserves of metallic minerals had increased by 22%.

In 2024, the production was: 38 985 thousand tons of metallic minerals, 15 073 thousand tons of solid fuels and 10 255 thousand tons of non-metallic industrial minerals. For the second consecutive year, a decline in the production of solid fuels has been observed.

Figure 6. Mining of metallic minerals, solid fuels and non-metallic industrial - thousand tons

METHODOLOGICAL NOTES

1. WATER STATISTICS

The data for the water statistics are result of the conduction of the following annual surveys:

- ‘Water services, sewage and wastewater treatment’ - the survey is exhaustive. Data are collected from public water supply companies (PWS partnerships), providers of water through irrigation systems and operators of urban wastewater treatment plants;

- ‘Water use’ - partially (by coverage criterion) statistical survey focused on the larger water users. Criterion for coverage is the usage by enterprises of more than 36 thousand m³ of water annually for their activity. Enterprises below this criterion submit data on a voluntary basis. The survey of enterprises for hydroelectricity generation is exhaustive.

Water statistics focuses on the quantitative aspects of water use, water supply, the use of water resources by the economy and households, treatment and discharge of wastewater back into water bodies.

Water statistics cover the quantitative aspects of water use and water supply, the use of water resources by the economy and households, as well as the treatment and discharge of wastewater back into water bodies.

2. MUNICIPAL WASTE

Data on municipal waste is provided through a specialized statistical survey, comprehensively covering municipal administrations, in combination with administrative data from the Executive Environment Agency. Waste from households not covered by organized waste collection systems are evaluate statistically.

‘Municipal waste’ is waste originating mainly from households, as well as waste of similar composition and nature from administrative buildings, commercial premises, schools and other public places.

The indicators and definitions for municipal waste comply with the Waste Management Act.

3. PACKAGES PLACED ON THE MARKET

Data on packaging placed on the market provided through a combination of a comprehensive statistical survey and a statistical evaluation. The scope of the survey includes all members of packaging waste recovery organizations. Other enterprises that produce packaged goods in certain industries but are not members of such organizations are also included.

Enterprises are served that: produce or import packaged goods; package goods for remuneration; package goods for their own sale; produce packaging and disposable utensilsnsils.

‘Packaging’ means all products made of material of any nature that are used to contain, store, transport, deliver and present goods - from raw materials to processed goods - from the producer to the user or consumer. Items that are ‘non-returnable’ and are used for the same purposes are also considered packaging.

The abbreviation and code identifying of the material from which the packaging is made are in accordance with Annex 2 to the Ordinance on Packaging and Packaging Waste.

4. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS WITH ECOLOGICAL USE

The tangible fixed assets with environmental purpose are part of the total tangible fixed assets of enterprises in the country.

The tangible fixed assets with environmental purpose include facilities, installations and equipment necessary for the protection and restoration of the environment in the areas of: wastewater, air, land, waste disposal and noise protection, as well as monitoring and control equipment.

The tangible fixed assets with environmental purpose do not include assets for the protection of air quality and the reduction of noise and vibrations in work premises, i.e. assets related to labour protection.

5. REVENUE FROM TAXES AND FEES AND EXPENDITURE FOR MUNICIPAL WASTE TOTAL FOR THE COUNTRY

The data on total revenues from taxes and fees and on expenditures incurred for municipal waste are provided through a specialized comprehensive statistical survey of municipal administrations. The indicators are reported in accordance with the Accounting Act, the National Chart of Accounts, and the Local Taxes and Fees Act. The data are crosschecked against the information published by municipal administrations with the Ministry of Finance.

6. UNDERGROUND RESERVES

The statistical survey ‘Underground reserves’ aims to assess the assets of non-recoverable underground resources in natural and monetary terms. Enterprises with a concession for the extraction of underground resources participate in the survey.

As a result of the survey, data are provided on: the area of deposits and the number of people employed in them by economic activity; the quantities of reserves and resources by type (total for the country); and the extraction of minerals in physical terms.

Underground resources are natural solid, liquid and gaseous mineral and organic formations that can be used in material production. They are classified as: metallic, non-metallic-industrial minerals, oil and natural gas, solid fuels, construction materials, rock-facing materials.