Källsortering, nationell modell

The aim of this project is to provide the Albanian authorities responsible for waste management with direct experience of introducing household waste separation schemes and improve environmental standards in Berat municipality. The project is timely and will benefit both Berat municipality and MTE as a methodology for the replication of the approach in towns all over the country. The introduction of source separation into Berat Town is being implemented by the implementing consultant Brooks Hannas & Partners and Urban Research Institute Consortium under a contract with the Embassy. The Project was agreed on between the Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MTE) and Sida through a Contribution Agreement (CA) signed on 17 March 2021. A contract between the implementing consultant and Sida was subsequently signed on 29 March 2021. In the CA a MoU between key project stakeholders were foreseen: Sida, the MTE, Berat Municipality and Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy (MIE). Due to changes in mandate between MTE and MIE, where MTE to over responsibility for the solid waste sector, inclusion of MIE was no longer deemed necessary. The process of getting the MoU in place took much time and efforts of both Sida and the Consultant and only in October 2022 it was in place. While some parts of the project could be implemented meanwhile, this led to a significant delay of project implementation. The delay was also to some extent an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Project extension: Since the budget was developed in September 2020 and the Contribution Agreement was signed in March 2021, prices have gone up drastically and in a way that could not be foreseen. For example, the Refuse Collection Vehicle (16m3) foreseen in the CA budget was planned for EUR 110,000, whereas 2023 market analysis shows it would cost 50% more (Eur 150,000 180,000). In addition to cost increases for equipment, changes during implementation have in several ways have meant that the original budget is not sufficient to deliver the project as originally intended as follows: Institutional responsibilities. The City of Berat chose to collect waste through its own public utility company. The expectation in the project proposal was that the contract with the existing private collection company would be re-negotiated to include the collection of separated waste. Taking source separation in-house is potentially a better solution because this enables the public administration to build a real understanding of the costs and benefits relevant to managing several waste streams in the future. At the same time, building internal capacity and the institutional structures to manage the new collection scheme has already required considerable technical assistance not originally budgeted for. Separated material, after collection, needs to be prepared for recycling and sale. The project anticipated this would be carried out or arranged by the private collection operator. The development of the model scheme for Berat has identified that the recycling market is not sufficiently developed to take unprepared secondary raw material. To adapt to this situation, a simple waste sorting centre has been added to the plans for Berat. The advantage is that now Berat city administration will be responsible from the beginning to the end. As a result, if citizens do not separate waste correctly the utility company will be able to identify the quality issues early and address it directly through the communications campaign. The disadvantage is that planning, designing and building a sorting centre is an additional cost, not foreseen in the budget. A publicly owned and operated, closed-loop source separation scheme is a more comprehensive solution than originally foreseen. Out-sourcing of waste management functions in Albania remains an important option but international good practice suggests that a solid base of technical experience in the public sector is essential to successful public private partnerships. The added value of the proposed Berat model is in the capacity building for every step of the process. MTE will benefit from a complete model supporting policy and investment planning. At the Project Steering Committee meeting which took place 1 November 2023, the Consultant therefore proposed a proposal for project extension with 18 months with additional budget of SEK 5 million. Based on this, it was proposed to make an amendment to the existing Contribution Agreement with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment to extend the activity period for the project with 18 months, up to April 2025, and extend the validity of the Contribution Agreement up to 31 December 2025. The corresponding amendment of the Contribution agreement and Contract with the implementing consultant was formally agreed upon in February and March 2024 respectively. Since the launch of the project in 2021 the project team have delivered key outputs. Research and field work were carried out into the existing status of waste management in Albania as a whole and Berat, a public opinion baseline survey and a social impact assessment. This work was used to develop a draft national model for the introduction of source separation, a Methodology to apply the Model in Berat, a Communications Strategy and equipment procurement documentation. Remaining to be done is to complete the procurement, inspect equipment on delivery, prepare Berat City and train operational staff to launch new services, construct the waste sorting centre, run a comprehensive communication campaign, establishing monitoring and reporting for waste statistics and integrate the lessons learned into the national Model so it can be applied in other parts of Albania. The current status of implementation is as follows: Result 1: Model Methodology for Source Separation: The Model Methodology, based on the field work in cooperation with the Berat PIU and working group, was delivered and approved on 19th October 2022. A Social Impact Assessment was delivered and approved in February 2022. Result 2: Capacity Building The project has supported the City administration in the research and development of a new waste collection service for both residual waste and source separated waste. As a result of the projects work the City has been able to established a public operator to take over the outsourced collection contract. The new services are planned to start in September/October 2024. Two study tours is planned for 2024 and will encompass representatives of the MTE and Berat City administration. Result 3: Communications Campaign The Public Opinion Survey 1 (Baseline) and Communications Strategy is complete and delivered and approved. Launch event, Berat took place on 12th March 2024 attended by the MTE, Embassy of Sweden and Berat City officials. Media content and advertising is being developed. Design and production of communications materials is ongoing at a high rate of activity. The following items are presently delivered, procured or in design: Stickers for the sides of the RCVs and for companies involved in recycling. Printing for the sides of containers. Website design for Berat City Green waste company. Short, animated video. Brochure for households. Uniforms for the waste company staff. Plastic bags for the historical area with communications printing. T-shirts and hats for volunteers, tote bags for consultation groups. City lights - billboards on Berat streets (3 sites). The communication campaign will be published through leaflets, stickers, billboards, the sides of trucks, tote bags, uniform, website and social media. The media campaign budget is approximately €50,000 between May and December 2024. Consultation Groups are being prepared. 7 target audience groups from 3 waste collection zones, women in the home, pensioners, business and informal waste collectors will be brought together twice to be informed about the campaign and provide feedback. Contracted July 2024. Public Opinion Survey 2 (Follow-up) is due to be completed in February 2025. Contracted July 2024. Result 4: Procurement of Equipment The procurement of equipment is partially complete. Phase 1 vehicle, bins and containers have been delivered. Phase 2 Sorting Centre and additional equipment, as described below, is in progress. Refuse Collection Vehicle 1, 8m3, (RCV1), procured and delivered. Waste bins and containers, Phase 1, procured and delivered. Waste bins (240 litre capacity), 1200 units and containers (1.1m3) 120 units, delivered Sept. 2023. Waste containers (1.1m3 capacity), 40 units delivered March 2024. RCV1: Delivered 7th March 2024 Sorting centre equipment: the Front Loader has been delivered. The Weighbridge, and Press procurements are complete and will be delivered and installed as part of the Sorting Centre works by October. Sorting Centre works, procured, and now in construction. The first milestone was reached in mid-July (16th July 2024) with the progress report showing 35% complete and the Supervision report supporting that statement. Construction of the Sorting Centre is due to be completed by October 2024. Refuse Collection Vehicle No 2, 8m3, (RCV2). Procurement completed June 2024, contracted, delivery due by November 2024 (TBC). Refuse Collection Vehicle No 3, 2-3m3 (RCV3). Procurement started July 2024, completed by December 2024. Waste containers (280 green containers), Phase 2. Procurement completed June 2024, contracted, delivery due by October 2024 (TBC). Waste Sorting Centre separation line. Procurement due to start July 2024, completed by November 2024. Result 5: Implementation Support for the New System Implementation Activities are ongoing to support the establishment of the new waste sorting system. These activities are closely related to the Capacity Building as described in Result 2 above. The scope of the implementation has significantly increased to reflect the overall reform of the waste system in the City of Berat. Due to be completed by March 2025.

The overall objective of this project is to provide the Albanian authorities responsible for waste management with direct experience of introducing household waste separation schemes and improve environmental standards in Berat municipality. The expected main project results are: R1. The national and local authorities have a model for waste separation at source; R2. Providing technical assistance to the national and local authorities (waste sector within ministry and Berat local authorities) to develop their capacities in the management of the scheme. R3. Introduction of a public communications campaign to support the new waste scheme; R4. Introduction and procurement of the basic infrastructure required for source separation in Berat municipality sustainable in the Albanian local context.