During the previous phase of the CityLinks Solid Waste Management program in Bulgaria, three rural municipalities worked together to develop a joint solution to their waste management problems. The network of three municipalities was assisted by U.S. technical experts from several cities who provided a variety of options based on U.S. practices. As a result, the three municipalities have started a composting program to reduce the volume of solid waste that needs to be disposed of in a landfill, and are reassessing their options for the disposal of the solid waste by completing a cost/benefit analysis of a new regional landfill versus a transfer station. This opportunity will be offered to at least five new municipalities in rural areas because of its strong impact, potential for replication, and low cost. The program will put an emphasis on developing the training and consulting skills of current and future municipal officials responsible for solid waste management. The program implementation strategy includes a strong public education element focusing on separate collection of waste and waste management.  

ICMA's local counterpart in this endeavor is the Bulgarian Foundation for Local Government Reform (FLGR). Established in the mid-1990s by USAID/Bulgaria, the organization has developed into one of the leading institutions supporting the development of strong, democratic local governance in Bulgaria, and operates an array of programs financed by USAID, the EU and other funders. The ICMA-FLGR team is partnering with the Association of Municipal Ecologists in Bulgaria (ASECOB), a well-established environmental NGO, and will include them in the program implementation and training of trainers and consultants.  It is expected that in the beginning of the third year, the NGO will take over the initiation and coordination of the replication of the composting/waste management practices to ensure program sustainability.

The Bulgarian cities of Sliven, Straldja, Topolovgrad, Panagiurishte, and Marishka are participating in the first round and have atttended training, delivered by Sarah Phillips, Village Manager of Johnstown, Ohio. They are being mentored by Tundja and Boliaravo, two cities which went through the program in Phase IV and are continuing their work in Phase V.