EBRD offers €10m to improve solid waste management system in Georgia

Georgia has been granted €10 million to improve the country's solid waste management system in its 64 municipalities and reduce the health hazards caused by unsanitary waste handling.

To achieve this and improve the lives of its citizens, Georgia will receive financial assistance from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The EBRD will offer a sovereign loan of €10 million to Georgia, outlined in an agreement signed today between the Bank and Georgia’s Ministry of Finance.

The agreement stated the money would be used by Georgia to improve the country's waste management system and help the country purchase a new fleet of solid waste collection vehicles, solid waste containers and related equipment.

The new vehicles will be distributed in 64 municipalities of Georgia.

Another part of the agreement was to raise awareness of the importance of hygiene, health and proper waste management to all people of Georgia. 

The money would contribute to:

• Implement a modern waste management system in the regions of Georgia:
• Improve the ecological, social and touristic environment;
• Create a harmless environment (in terms of health) for the local population;
• Raise awareness of the new waste management system among the local people.

The Municipal Development Fund of Georgia will implement the project, announced Georgia’s Ministry of Finance.

The Government of Georgia has identified solid waste collection and disposal, as well as reform of the existing waste management system as a key priority for the country.

A strategy for waste management was developed by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia with European Union (EU) support last year.

In parallel, the draft Code on Waste Management was adopted by the Ministry of Environment in January 2015.