Meetings in the Municipalities of Akhaltsikhe, Adigeni, Aspindza, Ninotsminda and Borjomi

On 22, 23 and 24 July 2020, in the frames of the Keep Georgia Tidy Project, Georgian Society of Nature Explorers “Orchis” held meetings in the municipalities of Akhaltsikhe, Adigeni, Aspindza, Ninotsminda and Borjomi to discuss the following themes:

1. Updating of the Municipal Waste Management Plan in line with the current legal requirements, international best practices and experience of the EU member states.

2. Environmental and health implications of dumpsites existing in Georgia.

The meetings were attended by: representatives of the City Halls of the five municipalities of Samtskhe-Javakheti Region, limited liability companies and non-entrepreneur (non-commercial) legal entities, total 50 persons.

The verified template of the Municipal Waste Management Plan, which complies to the requirements of the national law and is approved by the Ministry, was discussed during the meetings in order to adopt waste management international best practices and improve current state of the environment in the municipalities. In addition, the questionnaire prepared for updating/ enhancement of the Municipal Waste Management Plan and the template of this management plan, modern systems available for solid household waste management, relevant international practices, experience of the EU member states, ecological issues caused by environmental pollution and health impacts of dumpsites as well as ways to solve such problems were comprehensively discussed.

The Keep Georgia Tidy Project aims to attain environmentally conscious generation, reduce pollution from municipal waste (by 40%) and cut greenhouse gas emissions (by 10%) in Georgia by 2023.

The Keep Georgia Tidy Project is being implemented by the NGOs consortium: Georgian Society of Nature Explorers “Orchis”, Keep Georgia Tidy and Greens Movement of Georgia/Friends of the Earth-Georgia through financial support of the Government of Sweden.