Armenia is currently building its first sanitary landfill that meets EU standards as part of the “Solid Waste Management Program for Kotayk and Gegharkunik Regions”, implemented under an international agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The project also includes waste transfer stations and the implementation of an integrated waste collection system in all settlements of the two regions.
The total budget for the project is €11 million, with €5.5 million provided as a loan and €5.5 million as a grant.
The grant funding is further divided:
-€3.5 million from the European Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF)
-€2 million from the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P)
A new sanitary landfill with necessary infrastructure has been constructed near Hrazdan.
Waste transfer stations have been built in the Akunk and Martuni settlements.
The project has facilitated the acquisition of:
-28 Renault waste collection trucks,
-6,000 waste bins,
-Additional equipment, including a compactor, bulldozer, lifter, dump truck, and wastewater collection truck.
Twelve urban settlements from Kotayk and Gegharkunik regions have jointly established the “Kotayk and Gegharkunik SWMC” LLC, which will oversee waste management operations. However, the company’s operational and startup financial resources were not included in the initial loan and grant agreements.
To address this gap, the Armenian government has allocated 34.72 million AMD to support the company’s launch and maintenance.
The construction of Armenia’s first EU-standard sanitary landfill and the associated waste management infrastructure represents a significant step toward improving environmental sustainability and public health. This initiative underscores Armenia’s commitment to adopting modern waste management practices in line with European standards.
