Solid Waste Management in the Kakheti and Adjara Regions of Georgia

Brief Summary of Status and Current Activities

Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

November, 2012

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Contents

1. Waste management policy in Georgia.....................................................................................................3

2. Ongoing projects in waste management................................................................................................3

3. Waste Management in Adjara and Kakheti Regions.........................................................................6

3.1 Statistical Data................................................................................................................................................ 6

3.2 Landfills and dumpsites in Adjara and Kakheti Regions.............................................................7

3.3 Main waste sources in Adjara and Kakheti Regions...................................................................10

3.4 Waste management schemes in Adjara and Kakheti..................................................................12

4. Waste management in Georgia – a brief review...................................................................................14

4.1 Key stakeholders in solid waste management sector................................................................14

4.2 Recycling practices in Georgia..............................................................................................................15

4.3 Treatment of medical waste..................................................................................................................18

Bibliography.............................................................................................................................................................. 20

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1. Waste management policy in GeorgiaToday Georgia does not have a national policy on waste – a national level strategic document that outlines the key directions in the waste management sector. In addition, the comprehensive law on waste management has not been adopted yet. As a result, the existing regulations that relate to waste management issues are fragmented and insufficient.

The absence of a national policy document makes it impossible to define the long-term vision of the waste management field, including the development of waste recycling, reduction and prevention practices. In addition, current national legislation does not provide the definition of “waste” and the framework for waste categorization. A long-term holistic vision of the sector would guide the development of local waste management plans, elaboration of policy and economic instruments and local decisions on establishing specific operation practices. Today such decisions are made on ad hoc manner and do not fall under broader vision.

The data regarding types and amounts of generated waste in Georgia are also scarce. The regular mechanism that would gather, analyze and publish waste management related data is nonexistent.

However, there is a hope that in coming years the situation may change.Waste management policy documents (waste law, national waste management strategy) waste database and classification are to be prepared under the EU Twinning project that is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment Protection of Georgia(see Chapter 2). This project also aims to develop strategy document on waste management for the pilot region of KvemoKartli1.The project will end in 2014 with the delivery of documents listed above.

2. Ongoing projects in waste management

The ENPI East Waste Governance ProjectThe objective of the project is to reduce the risks related to environmental pollution caused by the inappropriate management of solid waste. The intended outcomes of the project include:

Identification of a pilot project region in each country for which the following will be prepared: (i) an inventory of waste disposal sites; (ii) a 15-year waste management strategy. The strategy will be presented to the international financing community for implementation following the completion of the project.

1 Waste Governance, 2012a

The adoption of a waste classification system by each country that accords with international standards and which compatible with EU standards.

Completion of a study to determine the feasibility of enhanced coordination within the international community in the financing of waste management projects.

Public awareness activities in each country to sensitize people about the importance of waste management issues and their relevance to local economies and public health as well as to the environment.

Aside from Georgia, the project is implemented in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine. The total budget for the project is EUR 5 800 000 out of which the total grant for Georgia amounts to EUR 800 0002. From each country a pilot region has been chosen and for Georgia the pilot region is Kvemo-Kartli3.

The project started in December 2009 and is expected to be finalized by the end of 2013.

Twining Project “Strengthening the Capacity of the Ministry of Environment Protection in the Field of Waste and Hazardous Substances Management and Improving the Environmental Conditions in Georgia"Financially supported by the European Commission with the total budget of EUR 1 250 000, the project sets a goal to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Environment Protection of Georgia (MoE) in the field of waste and hazardous substances management and improve the environmental conditions in Georgia. The project started in January 2011 and is planned to be completed by the end of 2013. The intended results of the project include4:

Improvement of MoE’s institutional structure aiming efficient management of solid waste (SW) and hazardous substances (HS) handling

Building of appropriate capacities of the beneficiary and key stakeholders to improve SW and HS management

Development of a framework for waste and hazardous substances management : National waste strategy,  national waste management plan, waste classification system and waste catalogue

Development and implementation of relevant environmental legislation and harmonization with relevant EU laws and international standards.

2MoE, 2012a3 Waste Governance, 2012b4MoE, 2012b

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Infection Hospital Waste Management Project in GeorgiaWith the financial support from the Government of the Netherlands, the project that aims to establish a national infectious hospital waste management system in Georgia is under way. The total budget of the project is EUR 750 000. The project has started in January 2011 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2013. The list of the intended results of the project are presented below5:

A detailed infection waste assessment A detailed design of the infectious waste management system An organizational set-up for the infectious wastemanagement system A description of management and operational responsibilities Procurement of incinerators and related materials. Purchase and deliverance of equipment 

Development of a Sanitary Landfill for Household Waste in Borjomi, GeorgiaAnother project that is being implemented with the financial support from the Government of the Netherlands aims to develop a sanitary landfill for household waste in Borjomi. The total budget of the project is EUR 1 200 000 and is expected to be finalized by the end of 2013.The intended results of the project include6:

The identification of appropriate sites for landfill development in Borjomi Municipality,

The selection of a site for landfill development in Borjomi Municipality and the completion of the associated regulatory procedures (e.g. land ownership, EIA, and environmental permit),

The construction of a sanitary landfill and supply/construction of associated facilities and equipment, and

Transfer of knowledge on best practices for best practices with respect to operational management and landfill construction.

Disposal of POPs Pesticides and Initial Steps for Containment of Dumped POPs Pesticides in GeorgiaThis project is being implemented in Kvemo Kartli Region and aims to minimize the releases of POPs from obsolete stockpiles and create a capacity to manage the POPs pesticide stockpiles. More specific outcomes of the project are:

5MoE, 2012c6MoE, 2012d

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“Legal and administrative capacity strengthened” will assure that pre-conditions, such as training and improvement of legal basis necessary for project implementation and further POPs related hazardous waste management issues are met.

“Minimization of releases from obsolete pesticide dumps”. This outcome will ensure the biggest POPs pesticide stockpile is partly eliminated in an environmentally sound manner and further releases to the environment are minimized. The second outcome will also contribute significantly to creating a local capacity in environmentally sound disposal of POPs containing wastes.

Establishment of project monitoring, accumulation and dissamination of lessons learnt.

The donors of the project are the Global Environmental Facility and the United Nations Development Program. The total budget of the project is USD 3 141 080 and the total grant amounts to USD 1 150 000. The project started in January 2011 and is expected to finish by the end of 20137.

Arsenic Containing Mining Waste in GeorgiaThis project is financially supported by the Government of The Netherlands and focuses on Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Districts of Georgia. With the total budget of EUR 750 000, the project is expected to be completed by the end of 20128. The overall goal of the project is the safe disposal and environmental sound management of the accumulated arsenic containing waste. More specifically, the project deliverables are expected to be:

Development of a Conceptual Site Model, including a site investigation, and development of an Action Plan for the removal or containment (control) of the hazardous mining wastes (contaminations), including clear priority setting and implementation phases;

Implementation of the most urgent priority remedial actions as defined in the action plan;

Communication strategy;

Waste Management in Adjara RegionThis project is financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with the loan of about 3 million EUR and grant of 5.3 million EUR. The overall objective of the project is to improve waste management practices in Adjara Region. Namely, the following activities are planned to be implemented:

7MoE, 2012e8MoE, 2012f

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Build a sanitary landfill following requirements of the EC Directive on landfills 99/31/EC

Close down non-compliant landfills in Batumi and Kobuleti and conduct post-closure works

Develop the collection and transportation system for municipal solid waste

Establish a new waste management company for the operation of the new landfill9

3. Waste Management in Adjara and Kakheti Regions

3.1 Statistical Data

Adjara RegionAdjara Region is located in the South-West of Georgia and occupies 3000 km2. The population of the region is about 393 70010. Adjara Region consists of five districts (Kobuleti, Khelvachauri, Keda, Shuakhevi and Khulo) and 342 settlements that include two cities (Batumi and Kobuleti), 7 towns (Makhinjauri, Chakvi, Ochkhamuri, Kheda, Khelvachauri, Shuakhevi and Khulo), and 333 villages.

According to the Department of Tourism and Resorts of Adjara Autonomous Republic, the number of tourists that visited the Region during the period of January-June 2012 amounted to 900 000, out of which 434 497 were foreign tourists11.

Kakheti RegionKakheti has an area of 11 310 km2 and the population of 407 182 inhabitants12. The region comprises of nine towns (Akhmeta, Gurjaani, Dedoplistskaro, Telavi, Lagodekhi, Sagarejo, Signagi, Tsnori and Kvareli) and 276 villages.

Kakheti is gradually becoming a popular tourist destination. The Region offers a number of historical and cultural sites, wine tours, beautiful landscape,protected areas of Vashlovani, Tusheti, Batsara-Babaneuri and Lagodkhi13. In 2011, 175 906 tourists visited Kakheti Region. The most popular destinations were Lagodekhi (39.6 thousand tourists), Signagi (38.3 thousand tourists) and Telavi (20.9 thousand tourists)14.

9 EBRD, 201010 National Statistics Office of Georgia, 201211 The Department of Tourism and Resorts of Ajara Autonomous Republic, 201212 National Statistics Office of Georgia, 201213Kakheti Region, 2012a14 2012 – Kakheti Tourism Year, 2012

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3.2 Landfills and dumpsites in Adjara and Kakheti RegionsCurrently, in Georgia operate 69 municipal landfills. Only six of them possess environmental impact permit: Dedoplistskaro (until 2013), Tbilisi, Ureki-Natanebi (private landfill operated by Ltd “Atu”), Ozurgeti District village Meria (private landfill operated by Ltd “Atu”), near Rustavi (owner is British Petroleum), Khobi District village PirveliMaisi (Ltd “Makronebi XXI”)15.

Racha-L

echkh

umiGuria

Samtsk

he-Jav

akheti

Mtskheta

-Mtian

eti

Sameg

relo-U

pper Sv

aneti

Kakheti

Imere

ti

Shida K

artli

Kvemo Kart

li

Adjara

Tbilis

i0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

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Illegal landfillsLegal landfills

Table 1The number of legal and illegal landfills in Georgia

Source: MoE, 2011

Table1 presents the number of legal and illegal landfills throughout Georgia. Five legal and eight illegal landfill is depicted in Adjara Region and eleven legal and one illegal landfills operate in Kakheti. Many smaller dumpsites exist, practically, in every village of the Regions (see Photo 2).

15MoE, 2011

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Photo 1: Batumi LandfillPhotos by: ArchilGuchmanidze

Most of the operating landfills do not meet environmental and sanitary standards – they do not have corresponding permits and plans. In addition, the majority of landfills do not have fences, leachate and methane gas collection systems.The monitoring of the surrounding areas (soil, water, air) is not carried out. Often dumped waste burns and emits polluting smog. Such landfills (that can be more readily called “dumpsites”) are accessible to cattle (See Photo 1).

For example, the official landfill of Batumi is located in the Chorokhi River delta and was first opened in 1966. Initially, the dedicated area for the landfill was 6 hectares, however currently the landfill occupies about 25 hectares. Consequently, about 20 hectares of the landfill do not have an official status. In addition, Batumi landfill is located in a close proximity to river Chorokhi that violates the Law of Georgia about Water. Disposed waste is constantly washed off into the Chorokhi River.

Another legal landfill in Adjara Region is located within the buffer zone of the Kobuleti Nature Reserve and Kobuleti Managed Reserve. This area

represents a wetland of an international importance and therefore, the existence of a landfill at its present location contradicts the Law of Georgia about the System of Protected Areas and Law of Georgia about the Creation and Management of Kolkheti Protected Area.

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In Dedoplistskaro District of Kakheti, solid waste is disposed of in the former opencast mine.

The EBRD financed project aims to improve solid waste management practices in Adjara AR. Possible sites for constructing a new sanitary landfill for the low-land Adjara have been determined (landfill is planned to serve Batumi, Kobuleti and Khelvachauri). Figure 1 shows the location of the proposed alternatives for landfill siting, as well as the existing protected areas in the Adjara Region. After comparative assessment of the proposed alternatives, site No 6 in Chakvi was considered to be the most suitable for the construction of a new landfill16. In 2011, it was decided that the chosen territory may have been not suitable for landfill and the search for a new site started. One of the probable locations is the area nearby Ochkhamuri.

Figure 1 Location of selected site

16SWECO, 2008.

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Photo 2: Illegal dumpsites in Kakheti.Photos by: KakhaSukhitashvili

Notes: 1 – ex military non-compliant landfill along the left side of Chorokhi river, 2- Akhalsopeli-KhlobchoKhelvachauri administration, 3 – Pool establishment territory of Kakhaberi alongside the existing landfill in Batumi, 4 – Industrial zone of Khelvachauri, 5 –Tea plantation areas, Salisbury State Esteblishment (i.e. Benze Field Area), 6 – MicroRayon 7 (Chakvi), The region near the new road tunnel.

KNR – Kobuleti Nature Reserve; KSNR – Kintrishi State Nature Reserve; MNP – Mtirala NationalPark; Violet contour – administrative boarders of Kobuleti and Khelvachauri regions of Adjara AR;Yellow contour – 600 m width coastal protection zone; Pink spots – dwelling houses andagricultural lands (privatized or prepared for privatization).

Source: SWECO, 2008, p. 12.

3.3 Main waste sources in Adjara and Kakheti Regions

Although the exact data on sources of solid waste generation in Adjara and Kakheti Regions do not exist, we can hypothesize that generated waste mainly consists of municipal and agricultural wastes. In Adjara Region, 78% of the population resides in urban areas17, whereas in Kakhetionly 26% of the population live in cities18. Those who live in rural areas are mainly farmers who produce agricultural products. Figure 2 portrays the shares of different regions in the annual generation of municipal solid waste (based on the data from 2007).

Tbilisi36%

Racha-Lechkhumi-

Svaneti1%

Guria2%

Samtskhe-Javakheti

3%Mtskheta-Mtianeti

2%Samegrelo- Upper Svaneti

8%

Kakheti7%

Imereti14%

Shida Kartli6%

Kvemo Kartli10%

Adjara11%

Figure 2 Share of different regions of Georgia in the annual generation of municipal solid waste (2007)

Source: MoE, 2011

17 National Statistics Office of Georgia, 201218 National Statistics Office of Georgia, 2012

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It should be noted that the amounts of the agricultural and municipal waste vary throughout the year. Adjara is a popular tourist destination during the high season of May-September. With the inflow of tourists, the generation of the municipal waste also increases in the seaside area of Adjara. As for the agricultural waste, it can be assumed that its generation is highest during the harvest season of September – November, especially in Kakheti that produces large amounts of grapes for wine-making.

Industrial waste is produced in both regions, however to a smaller extent compared to the municipal and agricultural waste. In Kakheti, the main industrial activity is food production and namely, wine-making (75% of the food production industry). The main industrial waste, therefore, is generated through food production industry. Oil extraction in Sagarejo and Dedoplistskaro districts and timber processing (e.g. in Akhmeta Region) are carried out to a smaller extent19. In Adjara the largest industrial plant is oil refinery in Batumi that is also one of the most polluting facilities in the Region. Food processing plants and consumer goods manufacturing facilities also operate in a smaller scale (furniture, clothes and footwear).

The exact share of the construction waste in the overall waste stream is not known, however, given the rapid construction and renovation works that took place in the urban areas of both Adjara and Kakheti, it can be assumed that the overall amount of the construction and demolition waste has increased during the last few years.

The share of the medical waste in the generated waste stream is small. The annual production of the medical waste in Georgia is estimated to be 5-10 thousand tonnes20 out of which 1,2-1,8 thousand tonnes are hazardous waste. Figure 3 presents the amounts of the generated medical waste (tonnes) in different region of Georgia as of 200921.

19Kakheti Region, 2012b20 In this report Tonne refers to a metric tonnethat equals to 1000 kg.21 MoE, 2011

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Figure 3 Annual generation of medical waste in Georgia (2009)

Notes: The first column on the left shows the amounts of non-hazardous medical waste, the second – hazardous medical waste.

The Regions from the top are: Racha-Lechkhumi and KvemoKartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Guria, Samtskhe-Javakheti, KvemoKartli, ShidaKartli, Kakheti, Samegrelo and Upper Svaneti, Adjara, Imereti, Tbilisi.

Source: MoE, 2011

3.4 Waste management schemes in Adjara and Kakheti

The major waste management method throughout Georgia, including Adjara and Kakheti Regions, is landfilling. While official landfill sites operate in both regions, significant amounts of the generated solid waste are disposed of in the illegal dumpsites. Such dumpsites exist almost in every village or municipality. For example, the existence of the illegal dumpsite along Gurjaani-Lagodekhi highway, nearby farming land and villages, represents a serious concern for the local farmers22.

Collection of the municipal solid waste is done in the urban areas by municipal companies. The collection in the regions, including Adjara and Kakheti, is carried out by outdated trucks. The main collection company in Adjara Region is Ltd “Sandasuptaveba”. In all the recent tenders that were announced by the municipality, “Sandasuptaveba” was a winner and 22 Regions.ge, 2012

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therefore, stays as the only collection service provider. Table 1 lists waste management companies operating in Kakheti Region.

Table 2 Waste collection companies currently operating in Kakheti Region

Municipality Name Contact Person Contact Information

Dedoplistskaro Service 2007 Ilia Taliashvili 577 95 41 95

Sagarejo Progresi 2011 Pridon Kokhtashvili

577 477 277

Gurjaani Service + Davit Imerlishvili 577 280 360

Signagi Komunaluri Davit kusikashvili 15 Gorgasali street, Signagi599 21 13 16

Lagodekhi Ketilmotskoba - -

Akhmeta Akhmetis Municipalitetis Ketilmotskobis Samsakhuri [Akhmeta Municipality Cleaning Service]

Tedo Ekvtimishvili 50 Cholokashvili street, Akhmeta.577 95 50 05599 92 96 48ketilmowyoba@yahoo.com

Source: based on the official letters obtained from the listed municipalities.

Similar to Adjara Region, municipal waste collection company in Kakheti Region is selected through the tender23 and is financed from the municipality budget.

Waste collection service does not operate in the rural areas, even the hazardous waste fractions (e.g. batteries, medical waste) are not collected.

Although a formal system for the separate collection of municipal waste is nonexistent either in Adjara or Kakheti, certain recyclables are collected by an informal sector. For example, on Batumi landfill people collect plastics and metal. They used to collect glass containers as well, however with the introduction of the waste trucks that press the waste, glass containers break before they are delivered to the landfill. The collected plastics are sold to the local small-scale recycling facilities. Collected metal is also sold. Some people live permanently on the premises of the Batumi landfill (See Photo 3).

23 In accordance with the Law of Georgia about State Procurement

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Recycling and composting practices exist, but their share is negligible compared to the percentage of the same resource which go to landfills. Despite the fact that both regions produce agricultural waste, the central composting facility do not exist.

Reuse practices take place in Georgia, however they are primarily dictated by hard economic situation rather than environmental considerations.

The major difference between Kakheti and Adjara Regions in terms of waste management relate to the treatment of medical waste. Medical waste is treated in two small-scale incinerators in Batumi, whereas such facilities are absent in Kakheti Region24.

Hazardous chemicals and pesticides are stored in special warehouses. Few of such facilities exist in Kakheti Region.

In Adjara Region the waste fee is 1.8 Lari per person per month. Waste fee is paid separately and is not linked to other communal services (unlike Tbilisi, where waste payment is directly linked to the electricity payment). Certain social groups are exempt from the waste fee such as war veterans, single mothers and their children, visually impaired persons, low-income families (having less than 70 000 scores).

In the villages of Samreklo and Khornabuji of Dedoplistskaro District the waste fee is 0.50 Tetri/person, in the rest of the villages – 0.30 Tetri. In Signagi District, the waste fee is 40 Tetri/person. In Akhmeta District of Kakheti, waste collection monthly fee for is 20 Tetri/person and for organizations 15 Lari/m3.

24MoE, 2009, MoE, 2011

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4. Waste management in Georgia – a brief review

4.1 Key stakeholders in solid waste management sector

Government agencies:

Central authorities: Ministry of Environment Protection of Georgia Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Georgia Ministry of Economic Development of Georgia Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sports Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia

Local Authorities: Directorate for Environmental and Natural Resources of Adjara

Autonomous Republic Municipalities and local administrations of Adjara AR Municipalities and local administrations of Kakheti

Private companies: Private waste collection and recycling companies Hotels Industrial facilities

Development agencies: International organizations and donors that support project in the

solid waste management sector of Georgia

Non-governmental and community-based organizations(NGOs and CBOs).

Tbilisi based or locally based NGOs and CBOs that work in the fields of:

o Environmental management and environmental protection

o Social issues such as healthcare, education

o Issues related to human and civic rights, such as

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access to information and public participation during environmental decision-making processes

o Protection of the cultural heritage Other groups and organizations that may be interested in waste

management sector.

General PublicIndividuals who are interested in the proposed waste management projects (mostly include those who reside close to the proposed development).

4.2 Recycling practices in Georgia

Recycling practices exist in Georgia, but little is known about them and their overall share in the waste management sector is negligible. Organized schemes for separate collection of recyclables is absent from most of the municipalities. Separate collection is mostly done by informal sector – individuals who collect recyclables (plastic bottles, metal, glass) and sell them. Separation practices are often carried out informally in the landfills as well.

As the estimates reveal (see Table 2), the recycling rates are quite high for glass and ferrous metal scrap, however are negligible for the rest of the waste fractions such as paper, cardboard, and plastics. Although certain capacity of the plastics and paper recycling exist in Georgia, most of the plastics and paper wastes end up at the landfill.

Although the share of the recyclables in the overall waste stream can be assumed to be significant (plastics, paper, glass, metal), the demand on recyclables have not been studied. In addition, recycling market is currently small, unstable, and not supported by the Government (e.g. corresponding regulations or economic incentives) which makes an unfavorable environment for recycling companies.

When it comes to waste reduction and recycling, the corresponding policy does not exist in the country. For instance, such notions as producer responsibility, or regulatory mechanisms directed on reducing packaging waste are nonexistent.

Table 3 The percentages of exported, recycled and landfilled recyclable fractions

Recyclable Fraction

Exported Recycled Landfilled

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Ferrous metal scrap

50.5% 41.5% 8%

Glass 10% 90% 0%

Cardboard 9.5% 0.4% 90.1%

Paper 0.8% 99.2%

Plastics 1.6% 0.4% 98%

Source: The Greens Movement of Georgia, 2012

In some cases, waste recycling companies conceal that their production is produced from secondary material as some consumers are skeptical about the quality of such products25.

Table 3 details the existing waste recycling plants. In addition to the listed enterprises, smaller scale, informal recycling practices also exist in Georgia. These facilities do not have any corresponding permits for operation.

Despite the scarcity of organized waste separation and recycling schemes in the country, few projects have been successfully implemented in this direction.

Within the program of Tacis Cities Award Scheme, that was financed by the European Union, Kutaisi was chosen as a pilot city to establish waste separation system. The main objective of the project was to reduce the waste volume going to the city landfill. Waste fractions to be separated were paper and plastics. Within the project three containers of different colors were installed in 65 sites. Yellow containers were for paper, blue – for plastics, and green for the mixed waste. In addition, intensive public awareness campaign was launched. These efforts have resulted in the successful outcome of this pilot project26.

Another initiative was organized by CENN and aims to promote office waste separation. Currently, 118 companies participate in Green Office campaign. Monthly, CENN organizes collection of waste paper from offices to a paper recycling facility27.

Table 4 Recycling companies currently operating in Georgia

25The Greens Movement of Georgia, 2012

26 TSAC, 200827 CENN, 2012

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Name Legal Address

Actual Address

Contact Information Type of Activity

Ltd “Sanitari” GamarjvebaHightway 4, Rustavi

GamarjvebaHightway 4, Rustavi

MishaKvaratskhelia599 58 31 30mishakvara@gmail.commisha@sanitary.ge

Treatment of municipal solid waste

Ltd “Interpolimeri”

Turgenevist. 42, Rustavi

Mshvidobast. 42, Rustavi

MalkhazKartvelishviliTreatment and granulating polypropylene waste

Ltd “Tomara” Rustavi Rustavi MikheilMachabeli574 44 34 06599231914temuri_loladze@hotmail.com

Treatment and granulating polypropylene waste

JSC “CaucasuanPetcompany”

Mshvidobast. 12, Rustavi

Mshvidobast. 12, Rustavi

EnrikoMosulashvilimob: 595 33 11 77skype : enricogeoLuijiGerolaTel: 341 29 54 96341 29 44 96info@caucasianpet.comwww.caucasianpet.com

Plastics recycling

Ltd “Ecoteknologia”

Turn 4 of Solomon st. 1 N 8, Kutaisi

Gegenavast. 7, Kutaisi

GiorgiApridonidze577 45 08 07g.aphridonidze@kutaisi.gov.ge

Plastics recycling

Ltd “Polietileni” Akhvledianist. 7, Orkhevi, Tbilisi

Akhvledianist. 7, Orkhevi, Tbilisi

David Bakradze+ 995 599 54 22 60orxevi@col.georxevi@hotmail.com

Polyethylene recycling

Ltd “Plastic Technology”

Chichinadze turn 1, Tbilisi

(595) 25 18 25,(599) 55 55 99

Polyethylene recycling

Ltd “SakartvelosPlastikuriTsarmoeba”

Chirnakhulist. 12

Tel: 240-71-36, 245 16 75Fax: 240-71-37gpp@caucasus.nethttp://www.gpp.ge

JSC “Mina” Village Ksani, Mtskheta

Village Ksani, Mtkheta

GiorgiMgeladzeTeimurazKiladze577 72 45 75TamazChincharauliTel: 244 99 81/87Fax: 244 99 80mina@mina.com.gewww.mina.com.ge

Glass processing plant

Ltd “LMS” Akhvledianist. 3, Orkhevi, Tbilisi

Akhvledianist. 3, Orkhevi, Tbilisi

Lela Chitadze599 20 35 08lela55-55@mail.ru276 87 17

Paper processing plant

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Name Legal Address

Actual Address

Contact Information Type of Activity

Georgia Waste Management Ltd.

Lilo, site 004/071, Tbilisi

Hasan Feyzi Dikyurt: +995 568 73 53 13hasan.dikyurt@georgiawm.comwww.georgiawm.com

Paper processing plant

LTD “Georgian Paper Productio”

Iumashev Str.17

Givi Akhvlediani, Director+ 995 574 34 11 34Nana Celadze+ 995 574 34 77 34240 72 40Elfipaper@gmail.com

Paper processing plant

Ltd “LEGI” Chkondideli Str. 87

Levan Demetrashvili, Director+ 995 599 74 72 74Giorgi Gorgisheli, Fin. Manager+ 995 599 50 84 85info@legigroup.ge

Paper processing plant

LTD “TTC” Khanzteli Str. 12-24

Temur Jebashvili, Director+ 995 599 50 96 37

Paper processing plant

Ltd “Neoprinti” Beliashvilist 2.4.6.8., Tbilisi

Tserovani GiorgiNakaidze+ 995 558 11 21 31+ 995 32 51 71 92+ 995 32 52 86 92Fax: + 995 32 52 90 22 (ნათია)neoprint@caucasus.net

Cardboard processing plant

LTD “B. G. Company - 2008”

48, Bogdan-Khmelnicki Str.

Levan Askurava, Director+995 571 10 40 05+995 558 10 22 44bgkompani2008@mail.ru

Paper processing plant

Ltd “Geostili” Jikiast. 5, Tbilisi

David Garejist. 36, Rustavi

224 37 95,214 10 11,(595) 33 59 43595 58 19 63

Metal scrap processing

Ltd “Rustavi Steel” Gagarinist.

12, RustaviGagarinist. 12, Rustavi

MarikaLomtadze595 99 54 40,M.lomtadze@rustavisteel.com

Metal scrap processing

Ltd Rurstavi landfill

Kostavaave. 20, Rustavi

KhatunaTegetashvili(+995) 557 318 918khatuna.teg@gmail.com

Source: The Greens Movement of Georgia, 2012

4.3 Treatment of medical waste

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Ten small-scale incinerators for medical waste operate throughout Georgia. Four of them are located in Tbilisi, two incinerators are in Batumi, two such facilities are located in Kutaisi and one incinerator is in Akhaltsikhe (See Table 4).

Table 5 Names and locations of medical waste treatment facilities in Georgia

Location Waste Type Organization

Tbilisi Medical wastes Sakvarelidze National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health

Wastes from the veterinary laboratories

Ltd “Environmental Technology”

Wastes from the Institute of Bacteriophage, Microbiology and Virology

Ltd “Environmental Technology”

Pharmaceuticals, pesticides, oils

Ltd “Kimiani” (on the premises of the Institute of Physical and Organic Chemistry)

Batumi Medical wastes Sakvarelidze National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health

Medical wastes “Sandasuptaveba” (municipal organization)

Kutaisi Medical (epidemiological) wastes

Imereti Regional Centre of Public Health

Wastes from veterinary laboratories

Kutaisi Regional Veterinary Laboratory

Akhaltsikhe Wastes from veterinary laboratories

Akhaltsikhe Veterinary Laboratory

Source: MoE, 2011

The existing treatment capacity may be enough to incinerate the generated medicalwaste, however the corresponding collection and transportation network does not exist. Consequently, the major part of the generated medical waste is collected and disposed of together with the municipal waste (See Photo 4) even though corresponding regulations prohibit such practice. For example, in accordance with the Order #22 of Akhmeta Municipality Sakrebulo (24 February, 2012), it is prohibited to dispose radioactive, medical and agrochemical wastes together with the other waste fractions. The only exception is Batumi and Kobuleti, where the collection and transportation system of medical waste to the designated facilities is developed28.

28MoE, 2011

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Photo 4 Medical waste disposed of in the municipal waste container

Source: Liberali, 2012

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