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Community in Sofia: local projects to join

Local Community initiatives in Sofia — practical projects you can start or join this week.

In Sofia, neighbours are already working on Community, including «EcoObshtina: Bulgaria's national zero waste municipality competition». Start something similar this week, or join an initiative already planned.

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Community ideas in Sofia

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EcoObshtina: Bulgaria's national zero waste municipality competition

The competition that raised the stakes for Bulgarian local government The EcoObshtina (Eco Municipality) competition is Bulgaria's largest annual award for sustainable municipalities, organised in partnership with the French Embassy. Za Zemiata shapes its evaluation criteria to prioritise measurable waste reduction outcomes: ensuring the competition rewards genuinely impactful programmes over greenwashing. In 2024, both Svilengrad and Gabrovo received the EcoMunicipality award, boosting the visibility of zero waste solutions at the level of national ministries and the National Association of Municipalities. What EcoObshtina does for zero waste - Evaluation criteria designed by Za Zemiata to reward source separation rates, PAYT implementation, and community engagement over less measurable commitments - Award ceremonies provide media coverage that amplifies zero waste success stories nationally - Partnership with the French Embassy brings international credibility and comparative benchmarking - Winning municipalities become reference cases for other local authorities to study How to engage - Bulgarian municipalities: apply for the next EcoObshtina cycle: follow Za Zemiata for application deadlines and criteria - Community groups: nominate your municipality for EcoObshtina recognition and document the waste programmes it runs - Policy advocates: use the competition results to name and praise municipalities that are leading: and ask the Ministry why national policy has not yet caught up with local practice Why it matters National awards turn local zero waste wins into stories ministers and neighbouring mayors cannot ignore. When Svilengrad and Gabrovo took EcoMunicipality honours in 2024, they gave every Bulgarian council a visible benchmark, and a reason to aim higher than greenwashing.
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Bulgaria: zero waste event guide for businesses and organisers

A practical guide making sustainable events the easy choice Za Zemiata published a practical zero waste event guide offering concrete advice on hosting low-waste and waste-free events: covering catering, packaging, waste station design, volunteering, and post-event reporting. The guide has been well received by business partners as well as civil society, positioning waste reduction as a competitive advantage rather than an obligation. What the guide covers - Step-by-step instructions for event planners: pre-event, during, and post-event waste management - Catering supplier checklist for single-use plastic alternatives and reusable systems - Waste station layout templates optimised for different event sizes - Communication templates for telling attendees what they can do - Case studies from Bulgarian events that have already adopted zero waste practices How to engage - Event organisers in Bulgaria: download the guide from Za Zemiata and share it with your catering and venue partners - Businesses hosting corporate events: use the guide as a starting point for your sustainability commitments - Municipalities planning public events: contact Za Zemiata for tailored support applying the guide to specific local contexts Why it matters Festivals and corporate gatherings generate concentrated waste in a single weekend. A practical guide lowers the barrier for organisers who want to do better, turning zero waste from a niche commitment into something any venue can plan for.
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Community initiatives in Sofia

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Rhodope Mountains rewilding landscape

Vultures, bison, and Balkan wildness In the Rhodope Mountains of southern Bulgaria, Rewilding Europe and local partners restore food webs centred on griffon vultures, red deer, and European bison reintroductions. When & where - Ongoing landscape; programme page: Rhodope Mountains - Approximate pin: 41.6000, 24.7000 (Rhodope range) How to participate - Book vulture-watching experiences with local guides where offered - Follow Rewilding Rhodopes for volunteering and education events Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Source: Rhodope Mountains: Rewilding Europe · Organiser: Rewilding Europe / Rewilding Rhodopes. Photo: Rewilding Europe (all rights reserved; editorial repost).
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