Bobov Dol Power Plant Waste Incineration Expansion Sparks Protests

Residents of Golemo village rallied against a proposal to expand waste incineration at the Bobov Dol power plant. The plan would increase the amount of non‑hazardous waste burned from about 35,000 tonnes to roughly 185,000 tonnes annually and add up to 125,000 tonnes of biomass such as straw. Protesters warned that the additional burning could release hazardous substances—including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, dioxins, furans, heavy metals and fine particulate matter—raising the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, cancer and other health problems.

The demonstration was organized by the village mayor Vasil Vasilev and the environmental NGO "Za Razmetanica s lyubov". Participants demanded that authorities reject the expansion, call for a full environmental impact assessment, and enforce existing EU air‑quality standards. They cited recent fines imposed on the plant for high pollution levels and stressed the community's long‑standing exposure to poor air quality.