New regional non-hazardous waste landfill for Samegrelo Zemo Svaneti

Project in brief

Project title: Closure of Existing Landfill and Construction of New Regional Non-Hazardous Waste Landfill in Zugdidi – Samegrelo Zemo Svaneti Region

Summary of the Project:

The SWMCG is implementing the project “Integrated Solid Waste Management Programme II, Kakheti and Samegrelo Zemo Svaneti Regions, Georgia”. The total project budget is 37.4 Mio EUR, financed with a KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau – German Bank for Reconstruction) Loan of 30 Mio EUR and Grant of 2 Mio EUR, as well as Georgian contribution of 5.4 Mio EUR. The project implementation is supported by the Joint Venture CDM Smith / Saunders Group. Under the project 2 new regional non-hazardous waste landfills will be constructed – one for Kakheti and one for Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, as well as the Transfer Stations in both regions.

The project component for the Samegrelo Zemo-Svaneti Region envisages the closure of the existing landfill and construction of the new regional non-hazardous waste landfill in the vicinity of Zugdidi. The aim is the  improvement of the overall environmental situation in the region by enhancement of the solid waste management system including:

  • construction of a new Regional Non-Hazardous Waste Landfill in accordance with national and international standards (mainly EU standards).
  • closure of existing landfills, and
  • waste collection and transport,

The project is implemented with the financial support from the German Bank for Reconstruction (KfW), and as such, goes along with the adoption of international standards, in addition to compliance with national standards.

The regional project in SZS region includes the following main components:

  • Construction of a Regional Non-Hazardous Waste Landfill in accordance with national and international standards (in line with EU standards) in Zugdidi (same location as existing landfill that will be closed)
  • Construction of transfer stations in Poti, Tsalenjikha, and Lakhani (transfer point); these transfer locations are used to reduce transportation costs to the regional non-hazardous waste landfill
  • Environmentally sound closure of the existing landfill in Poti
  • Environmentally sound closure of the existing landfill in Zugdidi
  • Provision of compaction trucks, containers, and street sweeping equipment

What are the benefits of this project?

The project is expected to have significant positive impacts on the environment and local communities by closing the existing landfill and establishing a new modern landfill according to international standards. Some of these positive impacts include:

  • The project will create jobs during construction and operation phases
  • The project will reduce transportation costs with the establishment of transfer stations
  • The project will significantly contribute to eliminating waste littering, minimizing impacts on soil and water resources, and avoiding generation of odors by adopting enhanced operational practices and, in consequence, lead to improvement of public health and hygiene conditions in the region
  • The project will reduce generation of greenhouse gases from waste management in the region
  • The technical framework is set for potential future Electricity generation from biogas