Between August and September 2025, as part of the “MĂ IMPLIC – Civic Engagement in Local Governance” project, implemented by SKAT with the support of Switzerland, six training workshops were organized to strengthen public waste management services. The activities were carried out in collaboration with the “E-Circular” Association.

A total of 145 participants took part in the workshops — specialists from municipalities and municipal enterprises, authorized operators, teachers, and community representatives — coming from more than 40 localities, including Bădiceni, Cotova, Șeptelici, Cupcini, Brătușeni, Ciuciuleni, Bobeica, Dezghingea, Pruteni, Risipeni, Telenești, Hîncești and others. The atmosphere was highly dynamic, with participants working in groups, reviewing real-life examples, and sharing experiences from their communities.

Out of the 14 local partnerships involved in Phase II of the project, 10 applied for improving communal household services — specifically solid waste management — representing 40 municipalities. The workshops were designed to directly support these local initiatives by:
• strengthening the capacities of local public authorities,
• enhancing the technical knowledge of municipal enterprises,
• facilitating cooperation between LPAs, service operators, and citizens.

The regional workshops offered clear explanations on waste legislation, the legal obligations of LPAs and service providers, and the steps required to organize separate waste collection. Participants discussed:
• collaboration with extended producer responsibility systems (EcoRep, FinPlast),
• the types of contracts and procedures required,
• methods to improve oversight and monitoring of the public service.

The intercommunal workshops, held in Călinești and Bădiceni, highlighted the role of citizens, schools, and local businesses in ensuring an effective public sanitation service. Discussions focused on the waste hierarchy, prevention, composting of biodegradable waste, practical measures to reduce plastic pollution, and the involvement of communities in monitoring the service.

Participants also interacted directly with authorized operators such as SRL FinPlast and EcoRep and learned from successful models implemented in other localities. One example is the sanitation operator from Borogani, which successfully connected the majority of households in the municipality to the waste collection service — a replicable and inspiring model for many communities.

For many municipalities, these training sessions provided practical opportunities to better understand legal responsibilities, analyze real models of service organization, identify locally adapted solutions, and involve citizens in developing public services. The workshops were widely appreciated as useful, hands-on, and necessary for strengthening modern and efficient waste management services aligned with citizens’ expectations.