Meeting on Regional Waste Management Plan in Kakheti Region

On 29th June 2022, the meeting to present the Municipal Waste Management Plan that has been prepared for Kakheti Region was held in the ballroom of Tsinandali Estate, a Radisson Collection Hotel in Telavi City. The meeting was organized by Georgian Society of Nature Explorers “Orchis” (GSNE “Orchis”) and Swedish waste management Association of Five Municipalities Gästrike återvinnare, in the frames of the Keep Georgia Tidy Project funded by the Government of Sweden.

The meeting was opened by the Chair of GSNE “Orchis” Dr. Mariam Kimeridze. Among the meeting participants were: the Deputy Minister of the Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Acad. Solomon Pavliashvili, the Director-General of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) Ms. Carin Jämtin, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden to Georgia H.E. Mr. Ulrik Tidestrom, the Head of Development Cooperation /Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden Mr. Erik Illes, SIDA’s Program Officer Ms. Khatuna Zaldastanishvili, the Deputy State Attorney in Kakheti Region Mr. Platon Kalmakhelidze, the work group that has been established in the frames of the project for the development the Waste Management Plan for Kakheti Region and includes the regional administration of Kakheti Region and representatives of the local government of all eight municipalities of this region, as well as the project team of GSNE “Orchis”, and international experts from Gästrike återvinnare Mr. Per-Olof Hallberg and Mr. Johan Englund, and media. Acad. Solomon Pavliashvili, Mr. Carin Jämtin and Mr. Erik Illes made their welcoming speeches. Mr. Platon Kalmakhelidze thanked the representatives of the donor and invited guests for their support, fulfilled work and contribution to Kakheti Region.

The purpose of the meeting was to present the final draft of the Municipal Waste Management Plan (MWMP) for Kakheti Region to the project donor and representatives of the local governments, among them the members of the work group that has been engaged in the development of this document. In addition to this, collaboration between the municipalities of the region in the waste management area, their work plan, time-schedule and actions needed for the approval and implementation of the MWMP were discussed. Priority directions and main objectives of the Regional MWMP that create the basis for the action plan were particularly highlighted on the meeting.

The final draft of the Regional MWMP was presented by the Swedish experts engaged in the Keep Georgia Tidy Project and the Waste Management Expert of GSNE “Orchis” Ms. Khatuna Chikviladze. Besides that, once more they shared Swedish experience in waste management to the meeting participants as this country is among the worldwide leaders of waste management and has considerable experience in cooperation between municipalities in this sector that enables them to secure competence, share investment costs, develop regional waste management systems and landfills, optimize work, ensure compliance to the national legislation, help each other with common problems, and share ideas/innovations.

The meeting of 29th June of the current year was preceded by a range of activities carried out by GSNE “Orchis” commonly with the regional and municipal authorities of Kakheti in 2019-2022, including meetings that were needed to prepare for the development of the MWMP for Kakheti Region, and to collect relevant information for this process (this included one municipality level meeting in each 8 municipalities of Kakheti Region and 1 regional level meeting in 2019, and 2 regional level meetings each following year from 2020 to 2022 inclusive, where international and national experts took part together with the above mentioned work group).

The MWMP for Kakheti Region has been prepared based on participatory approach, engaging all relevant parties in this process. The work group including representatives of all municipalities of Kakheti Region was established for this purpose. Activities of the working group is coordinated by the Governor’s Office through engagement of the international and national experts.

Now the final draft of the Regional MWMP covering 5-years period (2023-2027) is ready. Public hearing will be organized to discuss with the local population the final draft of this document that to finalize it considering public comments and suggestions, as appropriate. Furthermore, before approval, the Regional MWMP will be updated in line with the relevant legal changes and according to the updates of the national strategic documents linked to the waste management.

Development of the Regional MWMP will greatly support establishing the modern waste management system in Kakheti Region.

The meeting on the MWMP for Kakheti Region was organized by GSNE “Orchis” and Swedish waste management Association of Five Municipalities Gästrike återvinnare in the frames of the Keep Georgia Tidy Project funded by the Government of Sweden, which is being implemented by GSNE “Orchis” with the support of Georgian Ministries of the Environmental Protection & Agriculture, Regional Development & Infrastructure, and Education & Science, in close cooperation with the Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia and Environmental Information & Education Centre.