The garbage that litters Sofia streets poses potential risks to human health and sets the stage for an outbreak of infectious diseases, experts announced on Thursday.

Experts from Sofia unit for the protection and control of human health pointed out that the overflowing waste bins and the garbage around them gives shelter to rodents, who spread infectious diseases. A rise in temperatures will attract insects, another source of infections, they warned.

Should the crisis prolong, the experts recommended that special attention is paid to people living in miserable conditions and those who are exposed to a greater risk of diseases.

Novera, the company responsible for cleaning 19 districts of the capital city, stopped collecting the waste bins on Saturday, claiming it was not being paid by the municipality for its work.

Sofia is buried under piles of trash, overflowing from waste disposals. All trash containers are filled to the top, while garbage littering the streets significantly surpasses the containers' volume.

The new trash disposal crisis triggered yet another round in the war of words between Sofia mayor Boyko Borisov and Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev and brought unpalatable memories of the waste crisis in the summer of 2006.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!