This is the picture we see every spring in various places in the Republic of Moldova, the unauthorised dumped waste is crushed and kneaded with soil. Unfortunately, few localities have arranged landfills that meet the ecological requirements of operation. This is due to the lack of a community vision on the issue of waste management, but also the lack of a community solid waste management service.
Copăceni commune includes 6 localities with a total number of over 3300 inhabitants. In February 2021, the municipality signed a cooperation agreement with the project MĂ IMPLIC, to improve the solid waste management service in the locality. It is the first project in the community, which also actively involves citizens in its development. Although it is a first experience, the citizens are very curious about this process, they come up with initiatives and motivate each other to contribute to changing things in their community. Moreover, following a sociological study conducted at the initiative of the Community Initiative Team, it was determined that most residents of the six localities want household waste to be collected selectively. Selective collection would allow the separation of recyclable waste, its transportation to other collection centres and as a result will help reduce the impact of waste on the local environment.
Currently, there are two landfills in Copăceni commune, the one in Petrovca village is to be liquidated, and the one in Copăceni village is to be redeveloped and authorized. Ground waves will be raised to prevent the spread of garbage, acacia trees and bushes will be planted on the perimeter, areas for recyclable garbage will be organized and an access road will be arranged. Also, within the project will be procured a transport unit, which will serve all localities in the commune.
In the period 2021-2023, the commune Copăceni will implement a project aimed to improve the solid waste management service, with the support of the Project “MĂ IMPLIC”, financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by SKAT Consulting. Following the signed agreement, the municipality will benefit from funding (maximum 65,000 CHF), consulting, and capacity building services. The Project “MĂ IMPLIC” will help the LPA and the service provider not only to improve the infrastructure but also to develop long-term approaches to keep this infrastructure in good shape and to have sustainable models for financing the provision of services. In our work, we will ensure that local citizens, employees of LPAs, NGOs, economic agents are actively involved in modernizing public services in the community and especially that the less advantaged have equal access to these services.
