Waste Management Technologies in Regions, Georgia Quarterly Report January – March, 2016

The program aims to contribute to the USAID monitoring and evaluation framework objectives and results, including inclusive and sustainable growth, responsible management and development of Georgia's natural endowments, and improved waste management. The goal of WMTR is to provide professional waste management technical assistance to support waste management system development and recycling in two regions of Georgia — Kakheti and the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. WMTR activities combine various components into a comprehensive structure that focuses on technical assistance and capacity/institution building of integrated waste management systems and recycling/composting in the target regions. The program has four main components: Waste Collection and Recycling Systems, Private Sector-Led Recycling, Waste Management Strategy and Tariff Policy, and Communication and Outreach. WMTR also implements cross-cutting activities that support the four components above and promote local governance. During the reporting period from January 1 to March 31, 2016, WMTR had to contend with several assumptions, problems, and barriers, including miscommunication and lack of coordination among donor agencies, lack of financial resources in municipal budgets, and lack of local expertise in waste management. To mitigate these problems, WMTR works closely with all tiers of government and other stakeholders on capacity building and uses an intensive communication, outreach, and awareness campaign to promote best practices in waste management and recycling systems. Significant events and achievements during the reporting period include the transfer of the TDL-500 Portable Gas Analyzer to the Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia (SWMCG), which will enable the SWMCG to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from landfills and assess the negative impacts of landfills on the environment. The WMTR team also conducted a winter composition study in January 2015 to analyze the morphological composition of municipal waste in the program target regions. Additionally, the Prime Minister of Georgia approved the Rules of Collection and Treatment of Municipal Waste, a technical regulation developed by the WMTR team in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection. The WMTR team also developed a cost-benefit analysis report of waste management investments in the country to ensure the effectiveness of establishing a proper waste management system in Georgia. Furthermore, the team continues the Piloting of Integrated Waste Management Systems in Target Areas of Telavi Municipality program, which aims to introduce separated waste collection and a recycling system in 5 villages of Telavi Municipality. The Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources visited the pilot villages to discuss the progress of the pilot project and existing challenges. Finally, the WMTR team conducted a two-day practical training for the staff of SWMCG on the usage of GHG measurement equipment.