Waste Water Pipe into Yambol's River Tundzha

Not a pleasant sight at all seeing this waste water pipe running into Yambol's River Tundzha. It is however just a means of draining the road nearby in rainy weather and not from industrial sources.

Neglect and Waste a Common Sight in Yambol

My blog description says that Yambol isn't the prettiest City in Bulgaria. This picture just typifies many areas of Yambol where you see neglect and waste. All part of the character of Yambol which to those who live with it is normal. But to visitors from the Western world quite a shock.

A Yambol Waste Bin Full To The Brim

There is this reputation that Bulgarian just throw their rubbish everywhere and that there is no care about the environment when they do this. In actual fact form my experience in Yambol this has two sides. The younger generations tend to be more conscious of using of rubbish bins whereas the older generations tend to be the litterbugs. I can’t only put the older Bulgarian attitude this down to post reaction of communist times of the past when they could be put in prison for littering the street. This of course could well come back into play with western influence smothering Bulgaria. The well used waste bin pictured here is in an area where younger Bulgarians frequent – A good omen for the future.

Yambol Gypsy Bottle Collectors

These two Yambol Gypsies have the hands full with bottles they have scavenged from the big wheelie bins scattered around the city. They will be sold somewhere or used for heating their homes in the slightly chilly evenings. Nothing is wasted here in Yambol, always recycled or used until it drops. Bulgarians would use these bottles for gardening purposes, but the Gypsies just are not green-fingered at all here.