Round Table on Waste Management and Circular Economy Held in Ungheni, Moldova

Round Table on Waste Management and Circular Economy Held in Ungheni, Moldova On February 6-7, 2025, the city of Ungheni hosted the Round Table titled "Waste Management Policy and Circular Economy: Recycling and Composting Challenges in Rural Areas of Selected Municipalities on BSB," as part of the BSB00464 project, "Smart and Innovative Solutions for Green and Clean Rural Areas in the Black Sea Basin - Smart4Rural."

The event brought together 39 participants, including representatives from the six project partners: Tskaltubo Municipality and the Imereti Scientists' Union "Spectri"; from Georgia, Rize Municipality from Turkey, the Association "Tehnopol" Galati from Romania, Ungheni City Hall, and the "Regional Center for Sustainable Development" from Moldova. Also in attendance were local public authorities, managers, and experts involved in national environmental projects. The participants engaged in in-depth discussions on various topics related to smart waste management, the challenges in this field, and the importance of applying sustainable solutions to mitigate the negative environmental impact of waste.

At the opening of the event, Vitalie VRABIE, Mayor of Ungheni, welcomed the attendees and highlighted the importance of the project. He emphasized that the project’s outcomes would positively impact biodegradable waste management in Ungheni and neighboring rural communities. Ketevan TSKHAKAIA, Project Manager and Executive Director of the Union of Scientists "Spectri" (Kutaisi, Georgia), expressed appreciation for the fruitful collaboration with Ungheni City Hall and acknowledged the long-standing partnership demonstrated through three other projects implemented since 2014.

In line with the event’s theme, Alexandru AMBROS, Manager of the "Solid Waste Moldova" project, presented an overview of the current waste management situation in Moldova. He outlined the national and regional actions being taken to promote circular economy principles, including the ongoing "Solid Waste in Moldova" project. This project aims to establish a regional landfill for waste collected from the Ungheni, Călărași, and Nisporeni districts and to create a regional operator for waste management services.

Laurențiu Drașovean, Project Coordinator from the Association "Tehnopol Galați," and Daniela Gobiaja, Environmental Specialist at the Municipality of Galați, showcased the latest innovations in integrated waste management, including technological solutions and digitalization efforts being implemented in Galați city. They also provided an overview of the legal framework for waste management in Romania.

The participants also had the opportunity to learn about Georgia's waste management policies and best practices for handling biodegradable waste. Tamari MUMLADZE, Waste Management Specialist at the Union of Scientists "Spectri" and the project shared insights into the current situation in Georgia. Additionally, representatives from Tskaltubo Municipality (Georgia) and Rize Municipality (Turkey), Elene KRAVTSOVA and Mustafa BALTICI, presented successful waste management initiatives in rural areas of their respective countries. Valentina Grosu, Mayor of Manoilesti, Moldova, spoke about the recent waste management projects in her village and underscored the importance of inter-community cooperation to improve waste management services.

Aurelia Bahnaru, President of the Training and Consulting Center "E-Circular," addressed the concept of the circular economy in Moldova, framing it as an innovative economic model aimed at eliminating waste and pollution right from the design phase, with a focus on promoting the continuous circulation of products.

Recognizing that effective waste management policies and innovative solutions require public engagement, Ketevan TSKHAKAIA and Iulia PANCU, Acting Executive Director of the Ungheni District Children's Creativity Center, discussed the role of environmental education in encouraging waste recycling and composting. Claudia CONIUHOV, Administrator of the regional operator SRL "AVE-Ungheni," shared Ungheni’s waste management experience and led a field visit to the "AVE-Ungheni" base. She explained the waste collection, sorting, and storage services offered through specialized vehicles and equipment. The event concluded with a demonstration at the Ungheni District Children's Creativity Center, which was highly appreciated by the project partners. Students from the center, under the guidance of Director Iulia PANCU and their coaches, showcased a parade of eco-bags made from recycled clothes, as well as artistic and musical performances. Additionally, the presentation of the school research project on "Production of Compost from Degradable Waste" and an interactive digital game, featuring 12th-grade students, demonstrated their extensive knowledge of composting. These activities captivated the audience and highlighted the importance of hands-on environmental education.

The Round Table in Ungheni provided a valuable platform for exchanging experiences and best practices in waste management. It addressed critical topics surrounding innovative and efficient solutions that can help reduce the harmful effects of waste on both the environment and human health.