Sofia started its annual spring cleaning of the city on April 7; the initiative, which continues until April 18, is sponsored by city hall under the motto “Clean with Me”.

The goal is to not only to clean Sofia up, but also for residents, through their personal participation, to be part of the solution to the maintenance of the city’s cleanliness.

On the first day alone, 162 garden areas and in-between block spaces and 38 streets were cleaned. A total of 392 cubic metres of rubbish was collected, according to the Sofia municipality press centre. The most active boroughs were Beli Brezi blocks 1 to 23, Slatina, Pancharevo, Kremikovtsi, Bankya and Krasna Polyana; 834 people participated on April 7.

Also to be cleaned are municipal car parks and other public spaces in Sofia, including playgrounds, areas around administrative and commercial buildings and street-front spaces.

An information centre has been set up by the mayor’s office at Ariana Lake, where people can receive information about the spring campaign and, if desired, pick up material to aid with cleaning, like sacks and gloves, according to dnes.bg.

More than 62 firms that work with the city have agreed to help transport free-of-charge the collected rubbish.

Residents will also have the opportunity to rid their houses of unwanted electrical appliances, such as old televisions, computers, ovens, washing machines, and other such appliances. Eltech Resource, an industrial society that reclaims scrap metal, has placed four collection containers around the city: in the Goroublyane borough (34 Samokovsko Chausse), in Levski B (55 Knyaginya Tamara Str), on Slivnitsa Boulevard at the intersection with Baravitsa Street, and in Drouzhba at Kuro.

To give recognition to the most active schools, kindergartens and city residents who take part in the initiative, Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov has asked banks, insurance companies, manufacturers and institutions to donate gifts. As of April 4, 41 one entities had donated material goods, and 20 had donated money totalling 36 000 leva.

For more information, call city hall at 02/ 93 77 502 from 9am to 5pm Monday to Sunday during the extent of the campaign.