28 Sep 2026
In line with European requirements for environmental transformation and sustainable development, the Municipality of Stara Zagora has taken another important step towards building a modern circular economy in the region. A delegation comprising representatives of local government, Trakia University and local businesses took an active part in the sixth Steering Committee meeting and international seminar under the TEXAD project, funded by the European Union’s Interreg Europe programme. The event took place on 24 and 25 September in Santo Tirso, Portugal.
The Municipality of Stara Zagora was represented by Rositsa Koprivchina, Director of the Directorate of Public Transport, Cleanliness, Ecology and Landscaping; Rositsa Raykova, Head of the Department of Investments, Energy Efficiency and Green Transition; Plamen Yordanov, Head of the Department of Ecology, Landscaping and Forests; and Veronika Petkova, Chief Expert in the Department of Investments, Energy Efficiency and Green Transition.
The Mayor of Santo Tirso and representatives of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) officially opened the event and welcomed the participants. This key gathering marked the project’s final international visit and the conclusion of its exploratory phase for exchanging good practices.
During the final visit, the Bulgarian representatives explored European approaches to addressing textile waste challenges. The delegation learned about the strategic framework for managing textile waste streams, presented by the Portuguese Environment Agency and the Textile Waste Observatory, as well as the leading role of local authorities in building sustainable ecosystems.
Site visits to established technological and industrial centres attracted particular interest. Participants followed different stages of textile processing, from the pilot textile sorting system at LIPOR and the innovative Valérius 360 factory for textile processing and integrated spinning using recycled fibres, to LMA, which specialises in knitting and weaving with recycled materials.
The working sessions also featured successful circular textile management practices, including the door-to-door separate collection model implemented through the RETEX platform and MODATEX’s training and retraining programmes for workers in the textile sector.
With the completion of this final international visit, the project is entering its most significant practical stage at the local level. The knowledge, analyses and European good practices gathered will directly inform the upcoming update to the municipality’s Waste Management Programme.
By incorporating dedicated measures for textile collection, reuse and recycling, developed jointly with local stakeholders, the municipality will translate the experience gained into concrete local solutions and continue its sustained efforts towards a greener, more sustainable future.
