Working Meeting Held in Kutaisi on Site Selection for New Non-Hazardous Waste Disposal Facilities
A working meeting was held at the Administration of the State Representative in Kutaisi regarding the selection of locations for the construction of new regional non-hazardous waste disposal facilities in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti.
The meeting was attended by Solomon Pavliashvili, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture; Levan Zautashvili, Deputy Minister of Regional Development; Levan Zalkaliani, State Representative in the Imereti region; Mikheil Gogolidze, Director of the Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia; and the heads of all municipalities of the Imereti region.
It was emphasized that to introduce a modern waste management system, the country’s existing landfills must be replaced with new regional non-hazardous waste disposal facilities that comply with international standards, as well as with a network of waste transfer stations.
“Our goal is to create a healthy and environmentally clean living environment. Solid waste management is one of the most important issues. There is an urgent need to build new non-hazardous waste disposal facilities. Through active communication and coordinated work with municipalities and relevant services, we must address all existing challenges in the shortest possible time. Across the country, outdated landfills must be replaced with internationally compliant waste management facilities, which will protect groundwater, air, and soil from pollution,” said Deputy Minister Solomon Pavliashvili.
The parties discussed the current conditions of existing landfills. Despite repeated rehabilitation efforts by the Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia, many landfills still fail to meet international standards; some are located near residential areas, causing discomfort for the population and posing risks to public health.
“The construction of new regional non-hazardous waste disposal facilities is crucial both environmentally and infrastructurally. These new projects meet European standards and represent systems widely used in highly developed countries,” said Mikheil Gogolidze, Director of the Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia.
Once the new regional non-hazardous waste disposal facilities are launched, existing landfills will be gradually closed. For relevant services to address the challenges promptly, it is essential that all stakeholders — including municipal representatives — remain actively involved in the implementation of the project.
