Armenia Will Realize an EU-Compliant Facility for Solid Waste

Supporting Armenia’s effort to become greener, the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership fund (E5P) is co-financing the construction of a new landfill for solid waste for municipalities in the Kotayk and the Gegharkunik regions with a 2 million Euro grant.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which manages this fund, and Armenia’s Ministry of Finance signed the relevant agreement in late June. As reported, the grant will support the construction of a new landfill with modern solid-waste management processes, covering the collection and disposal of municipal solid waste. Work on the project started in December 2014 when the EBRD committed a 3.5 million Euro loan, which was complemented by a 3.5 million Euro grant provided by the EU Neighbourhood Investment Facility. The project was expanded in 2016 with an additional 2 million Euro sovereign loan from the EBRD. According to the information, it covers all seven municipalities in the Kotayk region (Hrazdan, Abovyan, Nor Hachn, Byureghavan, Charentsavan, Eghvard, Tsakhadzor) and all five municipalities in the Gegharkunik region (Sevan, Vardenis, Gavar, Martuni, Chambarak).

The landfill is the EBRD’s first solid waste project in Armenia. The E5P grant of 2 million Euro will complement the additional 2 million Euro EBRD loan and co-finance transfer stations, waste collection and transfer trucks, waste containers and other specialized equipment. The total project cost is 11 million Euro.

The E5P is a multi-donor fund operating in the Eastern Partnership countries of Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The European Union (EU) is the largest overall contributor to E5P, with committed funds of 70 million Euro. Armenia is also a contributor to E5P, with committed funds of 1 million Euro. The main objective of the initiative is to use grants to leverage loans from international financial institutions for municipal energy efficiency and environmental projects such as the rehabilitation of water and wastewater systems, solid waste management, street lighting and the insulation of public buildings.

Photo: Foto Fay, Burkardroth (Kommunalunternehmen Lk Bad Kissingen) / abfallbild.de

GR 32017