Over 200 tons of waste were collected and removed as part of the Sofia spring cleaning campaign, which took place on March 28 and 29. More than 1,000 volunteers participated in the initiative at nearly 60 locations in different areas of the city.
“What was a reaction in a difficult moment last fall is happening in an organized way today. We have shown that a situation can change when people believe that their intervention matters and that is what makes the difference. We can act together not only when there is a problem, but also when we want to do something good for our city,” said the mayor of Sofia Vasil Terziev, who joined the action in the “Lyulin” district.
The campaign, organized by the Sofia Municipality and the Sofia Inspectorate, brought together citizens, volunteer organizations, institutions and businesses, who with their joint efforts contributed to a cleaner urban environment.
From the first day, families with children, students and teachers, volunteer organizations and companies joined in the cleaning, working side by side in the field. Inter-block spaces, gardens, playgrounds and sports grounds and other public areas used daily by the city's residents were cleaned.
Despite the variable weather conditions, the volunteers showed high commitment and consistency, as the work continued in all the requested points. The on-site organization and removal of the collected waste were provided by the teams of the Sofia Inspectorate and municipal enterprises.
As part of the campaign, a significant volume of waste was collected in the Lyulin region, where over 50 tons of waste, branches and plant matter were removed in just a few hours. The region is among the places where high civic activity has been observed in recent months due to difficulties with waste management. The results of the current campaign show improved organization and coordination of activities, as well as effective interaction between citizens and institutions.
On March 29, Simeonovsko Shosse was also cleaned by volunteers from “I for you. We for them“, who collected and removed nearly 5 tons of waste, cleaning the deposits of sand, mud and anti-icing treatments. Their initiative was mainly aimed at reducing fine dust particles. The teams of the Sofia Inspectorate, led by the director Dr. Pavlin Kodzhakhristov, also participated in the activities, and after the cleaning, the boulevard was washed under his supervision.
Palltex and GTC Bulgaria participated in the implementation of the initiative, providing gloves and reflective vests for the volunteers, and Mihalkovo provided water for the participants during the cleaning. Sofia Theater also supported the initiative, because culture is not only what happens on stage - it is also caring for the environment in which we live. A key contribution was made by volunteer Dimitar Mitev - one of the leaders by region, who created the initiative's website and, by using AI tools, facilitated the process of identifying locations and registering coordinators - essential support for the organization of the campaign.
The spring cleaning once again showed that caring for the city is a shared responsibility and that with joint actions, real change in the environment in which we live can be achieved.