Circular-based waste management
MAŽEIKIAI DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY ·Multi-country
About this project
<p><span style="font-size: 14px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The project works towards establishing <strong>a long-term path for circular based waste management practices</strong>. At the heart of the project lie the principles of a circular economy, where waste is considered a valuable resource. It is based on <strong>expanding the life cycle of products</strong> through reuse, recycling, repair and renovation so that the materials products are made of play a part in the economy for as long as possible. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 14px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Our objective is <strong>to improve environmental performance</strong> in 3 different municipalities in 3 countries (Mažeikiai and wider Telšiai region – <strong>Lithuania</strong>, Paide – <strong>Estonia</strong>, and Sumy – <strong>Ukraine</strong>) by addressing legal issues, recycling infrastructure and technologies, reduction of landfills, and help reaching EU targets related to waste management. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 14px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The project aims to mobilise the engaged municipalities towards discovering innovative ways for <strong>reducing adverse effects on the environment</strong>. To achieve this goal in practical terms, we will employ <strong>feasibility studies for recycling/sorting solutions</strong>, <strong>study tours to Scandinavia</strong> for knowledge exchange and <strong>piloting and testing best practices and new technologies</strong>. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 14px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">An important aspect of the project is <strong>raising awareness and encouraging citizens, youth and children</strong> of the municipalities involved to pay attention to <strong>waste management, sorting and recycling practices</strong>. With this in mind, activities such as <strong>creative competitions</strong> and the pilots planned seek to encourage active engagement by the local populations and especially youth and children.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 14px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The participating municipalities have different challenges and are at different stages in waste management infrastructure. Implementing circular economy practices is the common goal and the transnational nature of the project encourages cooperation between the stakeholders in the partner countries through sharing of knowledge and expertise which will <strong>accelerate real improvements in the respective regions</strong>.</span></span></p>
Bilateral cooperation results
The project was constructed to involve the bilateral partners that were municipalities in cooperation (twin municipalities) and included one regional waste management center. The donor partner was sought with expertise in the area of corcular economy and waste management. The donor partner was new to the team but a good working relationship was established focusing on the project needs. Beneficiaries utilised donor partner competence and know-how in their activities, and the project work was set such that all parties contributed towards sharing needs or assumed needs, identifying needed competencies and knowledge and working towards obtaining the know-how and implementing the activities and project objectives. The donor partner took responsibility for knowledge building and best practice identification, and also, in some instances, provided advisory support. Most of the work was organised for the entire project team and some activities wetre bilateral per specific needs. As a result, cooperation between beneficiaries strenghtened even further, partners established broader networks in the fields of their interests and made the area of joint interests even broader. All partners have good relationship with the donor partner and at some visited locations and based on individual agenda will continue the needed coopration. Activities in the composition of the project team might be continued, ideas were shared but the planning is open for future possibilities.
Project partners
- Green Business Norway Donor project partner· Norway
- Paide Town Government Donor project partner· Estonia
- JSC Telsiai region waste management center Donor project partner· Lithuania
- Department of City's Infrastructure of Sumy City Council Donor project partner· Ukraine