Waste Management Technologies in Regions, Georgia Quarterly Report October 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016

The program is implemented by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) in partnership with the Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN). WMTR's goal is to provide professional waste management technical assistance to support waste management system development and recycling, promoting greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and sequestration. WMTR's activities focus on four main components: Waste Collection and Recycling Systems, Private Sector-Led Recycling, Waste Management Strategy and Tariff Policy, and Communication and Outreach. The program also implements crosscutting activities that support the four components and promote local governance. These activities include empowerment of youth and women, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities, as well as gender mainstreaming. During the reporting period from October 1, 2016, to December 31, 2016, WMTR contended with several assumptions, problems, and barriers, including lack of coordination among donor agencies, lack of communication among state institutions, and lack of capacity at the municipal level for addressing waste management issues. To address these challenges, WMTR works closely with all tiers of government and stakeholders on capacity building and has been using an intensive communication, outreach, and awareness campaign to promote best practices in waste management and recycling systems. WMTR has made significant progress in addressing these challenges. The program has organized stakeholder consultation meetings, hosted the fourth Stakeholder Consultative Group Meeting in December 2016, and scheduled the next meeting for March 2017. WMTR has also supported municipalities in project target regions to develop municipal waste management plans, conducted trainings and meetings with local governments, and cooperated with the Integrated Solid Waste Management Kutaisi project to provide guidelines and share experience on plan development. In addition, WMTR has provided 36 waste bins for separated waste collection to the self-governing city of Telavi and donated a modern 2010 Kenworth Rear Loader trash truck, valued at USD 90,000, to the city. The program has also been working to raise awareness and knowledge on waste management issues among local governments and the public, promoting best practices in waste management and recycling systems. Overall, WMTR's efforts have contributed to the development of waste management systems and recycling in Georgia, promoting GHG mitigation and sequestration. The program's progress and achievements demonstrate its commitment to improving waste management practices in the country.