Sofia mayor Boiko Borisov and representatives of the Sofia city council signed a co-operation memorandum for solving the waste disposal problem of Bulgaria's capital.

Darik Radio quoted Borissov saying that the problem needed an economic and pragmatic approach rather than a political one. Experts predict that unless the problem was solved urgently, within the next two years the excessive waste would reach 1.5 million bales.

Possible solutions to the problem include the construction of a waste recycling plant or partial re-opening of the Suhodol dump. The plant construction will take five to seven years. Borissov said that the construction period might be reduced to three years if the country received EU funding.

The signed memorandum also lists EU recommendations on the problem, BGNES news agency reported. The union requested an evaluation of the ways the Suhodol dump affected the environment in the region and research on new disposal grounds outside the capital. At present experts explore possibilities for opening of three such grounds and the Suhodol depot remains an 'emergency exit'.