Подход за оценка на ефектите, ефективността и факторите на оползотворяване на утайки в селското стопанство на България

The issue of utilization of sludge from wastewater treatment is an important socio-economic and environmental problem in Bulgaria and the European Union. One of the main ways to utilize sludge from wastewater treatment is its use as fertilizer in agriculture. In Bulgaria, in-depth studies of the diverse effects and critical factors of sludge utilization in agriculture are at an early stage. This paper is a part of a large-scale project aimed at determining the socio-economic effects of sludge utilization in Bulgarian agriculture. First, an approach is presented to assess the multilateral effects, efficiencies and factors of sludge utilization in agriculture. Then the various factors stimulating and limiting the utilization of sludge in Bulgarian farms are identified. The results of a case study of a farm using sludge as fertilizer are then presented. Finally, an institutional analysis of the sludge use system in Bulgarian agriculture is made.