Four Provincial Capitals, Three “Rs” of Recycling Darkhan, Altai, Baruun-Urt, and Arvaikheer, Mongolia

four provincial Capitals, three “rs” of recycling

24%

OF WAsTE IN TARGET COMMUNITIEs Is RECYClEd

Inhabitants Darkhan: 83,883 Altai: 17,617 Baruun-Urt: 21,550 Arvaikheer: 29,420

National GdP per capita Darkhan: $4,295 Altai: $4,295 Baruun-Urt: $4,295 Arvaikheer: $4,295

Geographic area Darkhan: 103 km² Altai: 2,161 km² Baruun-Urt: 52 km² Arvaikheer: 173 km²

ThE ChAllENGE

Waste generation increased seven fold from 2008 to 2017, but most cities still rely on open waste dump sites and only 1% of waste is currently reused.

CO-BENEFITs Four provincial capitals will enact comprehensive solid waste management schemes for the first time, with a focus on the three “Rs”: reduce, reuse, and recycle.

The Managing Solid Waste in Secondary Cities project intends to reduce environmental pollution, enhance community awareness, and increase the recycling of resources in the cities of Darkhan, Altai, Baruun-Urt, and Arvaikheer. This $2 million initiative is funded by the ADB-managed Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, and will focus on the three “Rs” of reduction of waste at the source, reusing, and recycling. Pilot community practices for waste reuse will be implemented, and 15 waste recycling shops will be opened.

New controlled landfills and transfer stations will also be constructed, with clay lining, retaining walls, and diversion channels to minimize leakage and groundwater contamination. The new facilities, due to be completed by 2023, will be built with climate change adaptation in mind, with additional culverts and raised embankments in flood-prone areas.

An education campaign will be launched utilizing social media and other channels, and by the end of the project period in 2022, 24% of waste in targeted communities is expected to be recycled.

health

Reducing the open burning and disposal of waste in uncontrolled landfills will improve the reproductive and general health of residents.

social

The project will improve employment in the informal trash collection and recycling sector, where individuals currently work in unsafe conditions at disposal sites.

Environmental

Environmental pollution from current waste management techniques, including groundwater contamination, will be reduced.

Collective effort in solid waste management. The project is expected to help Mongolia progress to its target of recycling 40% of solid waste nationwide by 2030 (photo by Alfonso Navarro via Unsplash).