Environmental and Social Assessment of the Tbilisi Waste Treatment Project
Client:
Tbilservice Group Ltd., wholly owned by the City of Tbilisi, manages municipal solid waste, street lighting, street cleaning, and the maintenance of underground passages in Tbilisi. The project envisaged the establishment of the first waste recycling plant in Tbilisi, including a materials recovery facility for sorting and recycling secondary raw materials, as well as a potential mechanical-biological treatment facility to reduce the volume of landfill waste through biodegradation and sorting of recyclables.
Identify existing and project-related environmental and social impacts and risks;
Describe and characterize the environmental and social context and relevant risks related to current site activities and the project;
Confirm the project category (A or B) based on impact analysis;
Develop an Environmental and Social Assessment Report in line with EBRD requirements, as defined in the ESP;
Prepare a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP), and Non-Technical Summary (NTS);
Prepare an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for construction works;
Determine the need for further additional studies to provide more detailed coverage of other aspects (e.g., biodiversity, resettlement, workforce reduction, etc.).
The outcome of the work was a comprehensive assessment and documentation of the client’s policies, management systems, and operational procedures ensuring compliance with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Performance Requirements, along with a detailed analysis of existing and project-related environmental and social impacts. As a result, reports and plans were prepared, including the Environmental and Social Assessment Report, an EBRD compliance matrix, the Stakeholder Engagement Plan, the Environmental and Social Action Plan, and the Non-Technical Summary, while accounting for the need for further studies on specific aspects.