Kutaisi Convenes Regional Meeting to Advance Site Selection for Modern Non-Hazardous Waste Disposal Facilities

A working meeting was held at the Administration of the State Representative in Kutaisi to discuss the selection of sites for the construction of new regional non-hazardous waste disposal facilities in the Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region.

Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture; Mr. Levan Zautashvili, Deputy Minister of Regional Development; Mr. Levan Zalkaliani, State Representative in the Imereti Region; Mr. Mikheil Gogolidze, Director of the Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia, including the heads of all municipalities within the Imereti Governorate, attended the meeting.

As mentioned, introducing a modern waste management system requires replacing existing landfills nationwide with new, regional, and internationally compliant non-hazardous waste disposal facilities, along with a network of waste transfer stations.


“We aim to create a healthy and environmentally clean living environment for the population, and we are working in multiple directions to achieve this goal. Solid waste management is one of our key priorities. The construction of new non-hazardous waste disposal facilities is an urgent necessity. These facilities will help safeguard groundwater, air, and soil from pollution, minimize health risks, and create safer living conditions. Through active communication and coordinated work with municipalities and relevant agencies, we must promptly address the challenges we currently face. Across the country, old landfills must be replaced with waste management facilities that meet international standards,” stated Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.


The parties discussed the current situation at existing landfills. Despite repeated rehabilitation efforts by the Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia, the landfills still fail to meet international standards; some are located in close proximity to residential areas, causing discomfort to residents and posing potential health risks.


“The construction of new regional, non-hazardous waste disposal facilities is extremely important from both an environmental and infrastructural perspective. These new projects meet European standards and follow systems proven in highly developed countries,” noted Mr. Mikheil Gogolidze, Director of the Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia.
 

Following the opening of the new regional non-hazardous waste disposal facilities, the existing landfills will be gradually closed. Effective management of current challenges requires active involvement from all stakeholders, including municipal representatives, throughout the project’s implementation.