Category: Solid Waste Management

Waste management remains one of the biggest challenges for local authorities in the Republic of Moldova, especially in rural areas. The lack of infrastructure, high costs, and limited administrative capacities make it difficult to provide sustainable and efficient services. In this context, inter-municipal cooperation becomes a strategic and sustainable solution.

On January 15, 2026, Partnership #14, formed by the municipalities of Zîrnești, Cucoara, Doina, Larga Nouă, Andrușul de Jos, Andrușul de Sus, Roșu, Badicul Moldovenesc, and Baurci Moldoveni, signed the Grant Agreement within the “MĂ IMPLIC” Project. This is currently the largest inter-municipal partnership established under the MĂ IMPLIC Project at national level.

The mayor of Zîrnești, Nicolae Beju, opened the event, followed by a message from Matthias Morgner, team leader of the implementation project, who praised the high level of cooperation within the group. The President of Cahul Rayon, Pavel Groza, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the importance of joint projects for local development and environmental protection.

The atmosphere was one of trust and openness, as participants stressed the need for concrete and shared actions. “Inter-municipal cooperation is no longer just an option—it’s a necessity. Together we can build better and more accessible services for all our citizens,” said Nicolae Beju, host of the event.

During the meeting, the mayor of Andrușul de Sus, Ina Codreanu, presented the Service Improvement Plan, implementation steps, and planned investments.

Key investments under the project include: the modernization of the collection system, distribution of household waste bins, compost containers, and the development of a temporary waste storage facility that meets environmental standards.

Thanks to the support of the Government of Switzerland, the nine municipalities will benefit from financial and technical assistance to develop infrastructure, train local actors, and engage citizens in the decision-making process.

The total estimated budget of the initiative is approximately 3.1 million MDL, of which 64.15% is provided by the MĂ IMPLIC Project, and 35.85% comes from the combined contributions of the nine partner municipalities.

“Each locality has its challenges, but together we have solutions. Partnering means more than saving money—it means a shared vision for the future,” said Ina Codreanu, Mayor of Andrușul de Sus.

The communities of Sîngereii Noi, Bilicenii Vechi and Heciul Nou have taken an important step toward a cleaner environment and better public services. On November 18, the representatives of the three Municipalities signed the Cooperation Agreement and the Grant Agreement within the MĂ IMPLIC Project, funded by Switzerland and implemented by SKAT. This event officially marks the beginning of the implementation of a modern intercommunal solid waste management service..

A mature partnership built on collaboration and trust

The road to signing the Grant Agreement was not a simple one. It required months of careful work in which the Municipalities of Sîngereii Noi, Bilicenii Vechi and Heciul Nou brought together people, ideas and responsibilities. Everything started with open discussions with residents – public consultations through which the community clearly expressed its needs and expectations.

Then came the technical stage: detailed analyses, financial calculations, evaluation of different service delivery models, and selecting the solution that best fit all three communities. Meanwhile, the local administrations worked on improving the legal framework needed to ensure that the new service can operate correctly and transparently.

These efforts led to the creation of the Service Improvement Plan (SIP) – a comprehensive document that outlines how the service will be organized, what equipment is needed, how the infrastructure will look, and what costs must be covered to ensure long-term sustainability. At the same time, tariffs and the Citizens’ Engagement Plan were approved—both essential for transparent and efficient operation.

The signing of the grant today confirms that all these steps were carried out with seriousness and responsibility. More than a formality, this moment reflects the strength of joint effort and a mature partnership built with the continuous support of the MĂ IMPLIC Project.

Estimated total investment value: 4 935 280  MDL:

 3.88  mln MDL – on-reimbursable funding offered by the Swiss Government through the MĂ IMPLIC Project;

1.05 mln MDL – local contribution of the three Municipalities.

Although the signing of the grant is an important and long-awaited milestone, the real challenge starts now. In the coming months, the three Municipalities, together with the Municipal Enterprise “Salubsincomserv”, will enter an intensive implementation stage—one that will transform plans on paper into a functional, visible service accessible to every household.

The first step will be organizing and testing collection routes to identify the most efficient paths and understand real needs in the field. In parallel, the enterprise’s staff will be trained to ensure the service is modern and well-coordinated.

But the success of such a service also depends on people. Therefore, an extensive period of public information and citizen engagement will follow, during which residents will learn how the system works, how they can subscribe, how to sort waste correctly, and what responsibilities each household has.

The subscriber base will gradually expand so that as many families as possible can be included. Implementing selective waste collection will change long-standing habits and bring the communities closer to a cleaner, more responsible way of living.

At the same time, the Municipal Enterprise will need to maintain equipment in good condition and ensure the financial sustainability of the service—an essential requirement for long-term results.

All these efforts will culminate in the long-awaited moment: the official launch of the intercommunal waste management service—a concrete and visible change for all three communities.