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.

Source & repost

Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it.

• Lead: Za Zemiata + French Embassy in Sofia + EcoObshtina partners
• Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th edition