Sofia, 10 April 2025 – FEAD, the European Waste Management Association, in collaboration with our Bulgarian member, BRRA, successfully hosted a series of events in Sofia on 7 and 8 April 2025, bringing together stakeholders from the waste sector. For FEAD, cooperation is at the heart of what we do, and events like these reinforce the importance of collaboration within the industry to achieve our shared sustainability goals.
The two-day event kicked off with FEAD’s General Assembly, where members gathered at the Sofia Balkan Palace to discuss the association’s strategic priorities. During this meeting, Aarnout Ecker, representing DENUO, our Belgian member, was elected as a new member of FEAD’s board. On the second day, a networking session took place, a first for FEAD. It provided an excellent opportunity to build connections and foster partnerships between FEAD members and Bulgarian companies working in the waste management sector.
Prior to the networking session, attendees had the opportunity to hear insights from distinguished speakers:
- Welcoming words from Alexander Ivanov, Head of the Department for Household, Biodegradable, and Construction Waste at the Ministry of Environment who went through the latest in Bulgarian waste legislation and stated that ‘Bulgaria is striving to reduce the consumption of raw materials and increase the quality of recycled waste’.
- Introduction by Yoana Yoncheva Filyova, Chairwoman of BRRA.
- Claudia Mensi, President of FEAD, who discussed the current crisis of the plastic recycling sector, highlighted the fact that it is ‘through collaboration, advocacy, and persistence, that we can shape a more resilient, competitive, and sustainable waste management sector’. She further underlined FEAD’s commitment to these priorities, mentioning our work with European policymakers and participation to a value chain platform that includes plastic producers, manufacturers, and recyclers.
- Herwart Wilms, Vice-President of FEAD, who explained the importance of EU legislation on the waste sector as ‘waste management is based entirely on the legal framework’.
FEAD extends its gratitude to all speakers and participants for their valuable contributions, and to BRRA for co-hosting this successful event. Strengthening cooperation at both national and European levels remains a priority, as it is through such partnerships that the waste management sector can continue to drive forward sustainability and circular economy objectives.
