AN obvious and important aspect of ecotourism is the preservation of the environment and natural resources. Bulgaria's emerging ecotourism industry therefore needs to be coupled with increasing environmental preservation efforts.

Bulgaria, and Sofia in particular, is not known for its efficient waste management. Recent fighting over the location of a new waste treatment centre has left Sofia without effective means of dealing with its waste.

In an attempt to decrease the consumption of limited natural resources, several environmental groups have emerged to promote Bulgarian recycling. Both private citizens and large companies are targeted by recycling campaigns, in hopes of encouraging a "recycling culture" in Bulgaria.

Sofia's five major environmental NGOs are: EcoPack Bulgaria, Ecobulpack, Bulecopack, Repack, and Recopack. They have divided the city into five zones in which they independently administer recycling programmes.

EcoPack is responsible for the region Ovorishte, which includes the area around Maria Louisa. According to EcoPack Marketing Director Katerina Milanova, there are sixteen recycling stations in the Oborishte region of the city. Each station comprises three separate containers, for paper and cardboard, plastics and metal, and glass.

Recycling programmes have achieved only nominal success so far in Sofia. When Sofia resident Maria Petrova was asked her opinion on the waste management situation and the future of recycling, she said, "It is a big issue."

"I don't know if people will be willing to recycle," Petrova said. "People aren't used to thinking about the environment. People think, `why should I do that if no one else will?' But recycling is very important and I hope it happens."

Recycling programmes in Sofia have not existed long enough to collect any accurate data on the number of citizens taking the initiative to recycle. EcoPack plans to promote its recycling programs with public awareness campaigns in the coming year.

"In our opinion, the bins are used by citizens," EcoPack's Milanova said. "We are planning informational campaigns-how to use them, how people can collect various items in their homes. We hope that the project will be successful in the future."