Programme description

Title: Solid Waste Management Programme
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Palestinian territories
Lead executing agency: Palestinian Ministry of Local Government
Overall term: 2005 to 2012

Context

Inadequate waste disposal is threatening both human beings and the environment in the Palestinian territories. In most communities, refuse tips do not satisfy the minimum standards for the protection of water, soil or air. Many landfill sites will be full within a few years and there is therefore a danger that it will soon no longer be possible to dispose of waste properly. In addition, the generally small-scale waste management that is organised by individual municipalities is not operating efficiently.

Objective

Community hygiene is improved and the burdens on the environment are significantly reduced following the implementation of an ecologically compatible and sustainable waste disposal scheme.

Approach

GIZ is implementing this project in cooperation with KfW Entwicklungsbank. The project strengthens local municipal administrations in introducing networked regional solutions. Unauthorised dumps are being closed down and replaced with new, environmentally compatible landfill sites. German experts train Palestinian specialists and managers in various aspects of waste management. In cooperation with local non-governmental organisations, they use cleanup campaigns and information measures to promote a sensitive attitude to waste. Through these measures, the project is helping to protect the health of the population and the scarce groundwater that is used by both Palestinians and Israelis.

Results achieved so far

Sustainable development is a core issue for GIZ. This also applies in regions characterised by conflict and political instability. The following measures have been implemented so far:

• In the Ramallah/al-Bireh Governorate (West Bank) and three districts of the Gaza Strip, the project has helped to introduce regional disposal structures (waste disposal associations), develop the capacities of the staff and set up the required infrastructure.
• In some districts, orderly and environmentally sound waste disposal now covers 90 % of the population.
• The unit costs for the disposal of one tonne of waste in the central Gaza Strip have been reduced by 30 % (from 23.60 EUR/tonne to 16.40 EUR/tonne).
• Municipal funding is being used more efficiently and is subject to transparent control mechanisms.
• Community hygiene in the municipalities involved has improved considerably.
• Appropriate measures to raise awareness of the issues have succeeded in promoting a sensitive attitude to waste and gaining public support. 
• Based on experiences at local level, a national waste strategy has been developed and is currently being implemented.