Heading Towards EU Steps to Be Taken in Municipal Solid Waste Management in Georgia

Abstract: As the country aiming to join the European Union, Georgia will need to be able to comply with the EU requirements. This applies to the waste management sector as well. The thesis focuses on the situation with the municipal solid waste management in Georgia illustrated with the case of its capital, Tbilisi. The backcasting approach is used to find out the way that will improve the situation in the field and will take Georgia one step closer to the EU. First, the model of the desired future is elaborated. Afterwards the present situation is studied and finally the pathway to connect desired future and current situation is developed. The idea behind the model of the desired future is to minimize incineration, maximize use of waste as the material through recycling and composting and ensure safe disposal. In addition, the model of the desired future should comply with the EU requirements. The main finding of the thesis is that the background for implementing actions directed towards the desired future is already in place. This is reflected in the presence of a large scale after-disposal separation practice, recycling of glass and paper, small scale composting practices. The thesis also explores issues related to the present and upcoming legislation and institutional arrangements related to the municipal solid waste management in Georgia.