The project “Circular Cities and Regions in Georgia: Building Local Capacities to Advance Waste Prevention and Circular Economy in the Regions of Georgia” aims to build a more inclusive and environmentally resilient future for Georgia by promoting sustainable consumption and production, while reducing waste in the Kakheti region and Adjara Autonomous Republic (AR). Currently, most waste is improperly managed and dumped in landfills, contributing to climate change and depleting natural resources. Several barriers, including legal, institutional, financial, and operational challenges, make addressing this issue complex. To tackle these obstacles, the project focuses on three key objectives: fostering collaboration among stakeholders, piloting scalable and innovative solutions, and raising public awareness on sustainable waste management. These efforts aim to drive long-term behavioural changes and implement effective waste prevention (WP) and circular economy (CE) practices in the target regions.

The overall objective of the action is to promote a climate-resilient and inclusive transition in Georgia by empowering local actors to advocate for and implement sustainable Waste Prevention and Circular Economy (WP&CE) practices. This initiative aims to increase resource efficiency, foster sustainable consumption and production, and minimize waste generation, particularly focusing on packaging, biodegradable, and construction and demolition waste in Adjara AR and Kakheti regions.

Specific Objectives

Strengthen cooperation and participation: Enhance dialogue, learning mechanisms, and participatory, evidence-based policy development to engage civil society (CSOs, including LAGs), local governments, the private sector, and educational institutions in applying WP&CE practices in Adjara AR and Kakheti.

Implement scalable models and innovations: Introduce and pilot sustainable WP&CE models, fostering initiatives in reuse, reduction, recycling, and upcycling through inclusive cross-sectoral collaboration and partnerships (PPP, B2B, etc.).

Promote behavioral change and public awareness: Increase awareness and understanding among the population about the environmental and social benefits of WP&CE, encouraging sustainable practices and lifestyles.

1) Enhanced dialogue and cooperation: Strengthened learning mechanisms and participatory, evidence-based policy development for increased capacity and partnerships among local actors to promote WP&CE practices in Adjara AR and Kakheti, including remote and mountainous areas. Focus areas include packaging, biodegradable, and construction and demolition waste. 2) Scalable WP&CE models implemented: Tested and introduced innovative initiatives for reusing, reducing, recycling, and upcycling waste, establishing replicable practices through cross-sectoral collaboration and multi-stakeholder partnerships (PPP, B2B, etc.). 3) Stimulated behavioral change: Improved public awareness, understanding, and perception of the environmental and social benefits of WP&CE to encourage sustainable practices and responsible consumption.