Amendments to the Ordinance on Waste Management, Maintenance and Protection of the Cleanliness of the Territory of Sofia Municipality bring new, higher requirements for keeping the construction sites clean. The amendments aim at reducing dust in the air, both locally during the performance of construction and repair works and in the traffic of specialized construction equipment in the urban environment. They are part of the measures that Sofia Municipality is taking to improve air quality in the capital. The amendments to the Ordinance are already in force after their approval by the Sofia Municipal Council.
According to the new requirements, employers and contractors of construction and assembly works within the Sofia Municipality are obliged to keep permanently clean the place of execution of the construction works and the surrounding area at a distance of at least 10 meters by sweeping and washing, to sprinkle, cover and take other necessary measures to prevent the release of dust in performing construction works, including loading, unloading and demolition.
The amendments to the Ordinance explicitly prohibit the pollution of roadways and /or public areas by machinery and mechanization with unwashed or dirty tires and chassis; placing and/ or disposing building materials, construction waste, earth masses and other items without appropriate authorization in municipal property (sidewalks, streets, green areas, etc.) intended for public use; allowing spills of resins, petroleum products or other materials, substances and chemicals in public places; pollution of the site of execution of construction works and the surrounding area at a distance of at least 10 meters, as well as the release of dust in performing construction works, including loading, unloading and demolition.
The Sofia Inspectorate carries out the control of the activities. The fines for offenders, according to the amendments to the same Ordinance, amount to BGN 100 to BGN 5 000 for natural persons and between BGN 700 and BGN 20 000 for companies or sole traders.
