{"id":25690,"date":"2025-05-17T13:31:37","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T09:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ampop.am\/?p=25690"},"modified":"2025-05-17T13:30:04","modified_gmt":"2025-05-17T09:30:04","slug":"waste-management-in-armenia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ampop.am\/en\/waste-management-in-armenia\/","title":{"rendered":"The Heavy Burden of Armenia\u2019s Landfills: Who Will Pay for the Waste?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The volume of waste in Armenia\u2019s landfills is increasing rapidly, forcing local authorities to grapple with the complex challenge of allocating new landfill sites.<\/em><\/p>\n

Over the past two decades, the primary driver behind this growth has been the surge in packaging and single-use product waste, which now accounts for nearly 40% of all municipal waste\u2014doubling the burden on waste collection systems.<\/em><\/p>\n

The waste management model currently in use in Armenia\u2014an inherited legacy from Soviet times\u2014is outdated. Yet the changing volume and composition of waste demand modern approaches to reduce environmental harm.<\/em><\/p>\n

With this report, Ampop Media<\/strong> explores the alarming and largely unmanaged state of waste in Armenia, backed by data and analysis. It also outlines possible solutions, drawing on international best practices.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Situation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Every day, consumers bring home plastic and glass containers, paper or polyethylene bags, aluminum trays and lids along with the groceries and household items they purchase. But once the products are consumed, most of this packaging ends up in landfills, mixed with general household waste. Yet these materials could have been sorted by consumers and sent for recycling.<\/p>\n

When recyclable materials\u2014such as plastic, paper, glass, and metal\u2014are mixed with household waste like food scraps and other organic matter in urban landfills, a range of environmental, economic, and social problems arise. In Armenia, the situation is further exacerbated by the presence of hazardous waste in landfills, including mercury thermometers, diapers, mattresses, tires, batteries, fluorescent lamps, and electronic devices.<\/p>\n

According to 2023 data, each resident of Yerevan generates approximately 230 kilograms of waste per year, adding up to around 290,000 tons citywide.<\/p>\n

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What happens when different types of waste are mixed?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Organic materials begin to decompose, producing methane and other harmful gases, which lead to landfill fires and atmospheric emissions.<\/p>\n

Plastic, glass, metal, and paper mixed with food waste become contaminated, rendering them unsuitable for recycling. If hazardous waste (such as batteries or electronic devices) is present in mixed waste, toxic substances like lead or mercury can leak out.<\/p>\n

Polluted air, groundwater, and soil damage the environment and pose a serious health risk to humans, leading to severe or incurable diseases.<\/p>\n

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Tire Waste Is Hazardous \u2014 Yet Collection Remains Disorganized<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This simple chain of events shows that waste poses a serious threat to both the environment and human health. If current consumption rates continue, the volume of waste on our planet is expected to increase by 70% by 2050.<\/p>\n

Without proper sorting and recycling measures, the planet could become a massive landfill, threatening biodiversity, climate, the quality of water and air, and human well-being.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s common to find unusable mattresses left by trash bins.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Landfills in the Spotlight<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Armenia generates approximately 700,000 tons of municipal solid waste annually, most of which is transported to around 300 landfills operating across the country\u2019s provinces.<\/p>\n

At these landfills, much of the recyclable waste is sorted by informal groups, who extract materials like plastic, paper, glass, and metal and sell them to recycling collection points for income. These individuals work under poor sanitary and hygienic conditions, putting both their own health and public health at risk.<\/p>\n