Only 27 out of the 55 projected regional depots for refuse from Sofia were functioning. Another seven were under constructopm, but the rest were in a various stages of preparation, Deputy Environment and Water Affairs Minister Chavdar Georgiev told private broadcaster bTV.

Bulgaria was meeting all requirements for refuse management. However, currently there was no infrastructure of facilities for procession of household refuse, he said.

Customs Agency head Hristo Koulishev commented on the dismissal of Svilengrad customs head Stefan Marashev, which was the “result of a planned investigation that found out that he [Marashev] had allowed the rebate of excise duties without legal grounds,” Koulishev said.

The illegal rebates exceeded 10 million leva. “Mr Marashev could claim his rights before the Administrative Court, but this [the dismissal] is a decision by the disciplinary council, the procedure for his dismissal was followed to the letter,” Koulishev said.