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23 June 2026

Towards a Close the Glass Loop Action Plan for Bulgaria | in-person event

A workshop co-organised by Close the Glass Loop, ECOBULPACK and BA Glass Bulgaria

16 September 2026, 09:00 - 15:30 (EEST), Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia Balkan Palace, 5, Sveta Nedelya Square

The international workshop “Towards a Close the Glass Loop Action Plan in Bulgaria” aims at involving the whole glass packaging value chain in Bulgaria, and discussing joint actions for more and better separate collection and recycling of glass packaging. It will serve as a starting point for structured dialogue and cooperation for:

  • improving the systems for separate glass collection
  • increasing the quantity and quality of collected glass
  • better coordination between municipalities, EPR organizations and the recycling industry
  • engaging policymakers, citizens and businesses
  • supporting investments and pilot projects
  • positioning the separate collection and recycling of glass as a national priority in the wider European circular economy context

The event will mark the official establishment of a National Platform for glass collection and recycling in Bulgaria, joining the European value chain initiative Close the Glass Loop.

Register Here
09:00 – 09:30
Registration & Welcome Coffee
09:30 – 10:00
Opening Session & Keynote Statements
Introduced by
Jean-Paul Judson
Managing Director, NOWMORE & Coordinator of Close the Glass Loop
Georgi Slavchev
Procurator, ECOBULPACK Bulgaria
Speakers
Ministry of Environment and Water TBC
Bulgaria
Ministry of Economy, Investment and Industry TBC
Bulgaria
NAMRB TBC
National Association of the Municipalities in Bulgaria
10:00 – 11:15
Impact of the New European and National Legislation on Packaging and Packaging Waste on Glass Containers
Panel discussion and Q&A
Speakers
Vanessa Chesnot
Head of Public Affairs & Product Policy, FEVE – European Container Glass Federation
José Manuel Núñez-Lagos Bau
Director General, Ecovidrio, representing EXPRA – Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance
Ignacio Sanchez Recarte
Secretary General, CEEV – European Committee of Wine Companies
eng. Antoaneta Bojinova
Executive Director, Union of Fruit and Vegetable Processors
spiritsBulgaria TBC
11:15 – 11:45
Coffee Break & Networking
11:45 – 13:00
European Case Studies: Effective Post-Consumer Waste Management to Improve and Increase Glass Collection for Recycling in Europe
Speakers
Effective collection practices from the glass cullet recycling industry
Giulia Caroli
Technical Officer, FERVER – European Federation of Glass Recyclers
Glass packaging value chain collaboration in action
Nuno Vieira
Coordinator, Plataforma Vidro+, Portugal
Co-responsibility between Extended Producer Responsibility schemes and local authorities
José Manuel Núñez-Lagos Bau
Director General, Ecovidrio, Spain
Innovative projects on glass collection & recycling in Austria
Eva Koller
Managing Director, Austria Glas Recycling
Followed by a panel discussion and Q&A.
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch Break
14:00 – 15:20
Increasing and Improving Glass Collection and Recycling in Bulgaria – Close the Glass Loop Action Plan
After a series of short interventions on each panellist's priorities for a Close the Glass Loop Action Plan in Bulgaria, there will be an open discussion with all participants.
Speakers
Close the Glass Loop Platform
Vanya Neycheva
Project Manager, Close the Glass Loop
Close the Glass Loop Bulgaria – national context
Georgi Slavchev
Procurator, ECOBULPACK Bulgaria
Stakeholders Perspectives
Marco Marques
Managing Director for South-East Europe, BA Glass
Yoana Yoncheva-Filyova
Chairwoman, BRRA – Bulgarian Recovery and Recycling Association
Nikolay Sidzimov
Executive Director, ASEKOB – Association of Municipal Ecologists in Bulgaria
Open discussion on a joint action plan for glass collection & recycling in Bulgaria.
15:20 – 15:30
Wrap-up and Conclusions
Register Here

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