Bulgaria is the largest fertilizer producer in Southeast Europe with about 60 % of its annual production exported. The resort town of Velingrad has had a long-lasting problem with all of its domestic, animal and agricultural waste. People in Velingrad used to collect their waste - domestic, animal and agricultural - and dump it in one end of the town. Intervention was needed and the citizens of Velingrad took up a project to collect the waste.

According to the European Union, a significant number of people of Roma live in extreme marginalization in both rural and urban areas. Intereko-21 project involves mostly the poor and unemployed of Roma origin, retirees and university students to try and equally integrate the Roma people into society. Intereko-21’s purchased bio-composters for the biomass composting process. The compost is used for the production of environmentally clean food and plant products, used in the cities of Velingrad, Yablanitza, Petrich and others.

Achievements of the project include environmental remediation through better waste management, changed attitude and behaviour on waste disposal, improvement of soil fertility, promotion of organic food products; and integration of Roma and other marginalized groups. The project has been replicated in several other municipalities.